Task Force Falcon (United States)

Task Force Falcon has been the name of several United States Army Task forces.

Kosovo

See also: Kosovo Force

Task Force Falcon, a brigade-sized task force, was created on 9 June 1999 under the command of Brigadier General Bantz John Craddock using selected elements of Task Force Hawk, sent to Albania to provide support for Operation Allied Force during the Kosovo War. These units were deployed to Camp Able Sentry in Macedonia on that day, and were sent into Kosovo under Operation Joint Guardian, the NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo, on 11 June. However, planning for the TF had started months before its creation, in the winter of 1998–1999. It was named Task Force Falcon to complement Task Force Eagle, the name for the NATO peacekeeping force in Bosnia, and initially included around 3,500 United States troops. It doubled in size by early spring 1999 after engineers were added for support, and the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division was alerted for deployment in early June. By 8 June, its United States Army Europe organization was finalized, including the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion, 77th Armor, 9th Engineer Battalion, 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery, the 299th Forward Support Battalion, the 2nd Brigade Reconnaissance Troop (E Troop, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment), and the headquarters for the 2nd Brigade and a tactical command post for support units from the 1st Infantry Division.

Afghanistan

Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division

In winter 2006 the Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division was deployed again to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom as the only aviation brigade in the theater, stationed at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. Named "Task Force Falcon," the brigade's mission was to conduct aviation operations to destroy insurgents and anti-coalition militia in an effort to help build the Afghan National Security Force's capability and allow the Afghan government to increase its capabilities. In addition, the Task Force provided logistical and aviation support for International Security Assistance Force forces throughout the country, conducted tactical maneuvers and performed security and attack operations when needed.

Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division

In October 2017, half of the Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division deployed to Afghanistan as Task Force Falcon, replacing the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade of the 7th Infantry Division.

References

Bibliography

• Phillips, R. Cody (2007). Operation Joint Guardian: The U.S. Army in Kosovo. CMH Pub 70-109-1. Washington, D.C.: United States Army Center of Military History. ISBN 9780160790447. https://history.army.mil/brochures/Kosovo/Kosovo.pdf.