4th MEB cases colors at inactivation ceremony

Photo By Staff Sgt. Kelly Carlton | Col. Andy Munera, commander of the 4th MEB, 1st Infantry Division, left, and Command...... read more read more

Photo By Staff Sgt. Kelly Carlton | Col. Andy Munera, commander of the 4th MEB, 1st Infantry Division, left, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jon Stanley, 4th MEB command sergeant major, case the colors of the 4th MEB during an inactivation ceremony June 17 at Fort Leonard Wood’s Gammon Field.  see less | View Image Page

FORT LEONARD WOOD, MO, UNITED STATES

06.19.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. Mark Patton 

4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade

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FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. – The teal and gold colors of the 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade graced Fort Leonard Wood one last time before being cased June 17 at a ceremony on the rain-soaked grounds of Gammon Field.

Leaders, Soldiers and guests looked on as the 399th Army Band belted out traditional military music and the 1st Infantry Division’s Commanding General's Mounted Color Guard made the trip from Fort Riley, Kansas, to join the 4th MEB troops and military dogs in formation.

"Today we commence with inactivation, and the 'Dauntless' brigade stands ready to reawaken should the nation need us again," said Col. Andy Munera, commander of the 4th MEB, 1st Infantry Division, to the crowd.

The 4th MEB was established on Oct. 16, 2008, and for much of the unit’s existence it doubled as Task Force Operations for the Joint Task Force-Civil Support’s Defense Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Response Force, or DCRF. The 4th MEB’s DCRF mission was to save lives and mitigate human suffering in a homeland chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear environment in support of the local, state and federal agencies that would respond.

Soldiers from the 4th MEB also served on a diverse set of missions that spanned the globe. Some of the brigade’s undertakings included safeguarding the installation, conducting combined arms gap crossings and breaches, dog team missions, personal security details, providing patrols, National Training Center and Joint Readiness Training Center rotations and numerous deployments.

"I'm proud of the accomplishments of our Dauntless Soldiers throughout the years,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Jon Stanley, 4th MEB command sergeant major. “The 4th MEB was a disciplined and professional unit and our Soldiers will undoubtedly go on to serve the Army and our nation with pride and competence."

Brig. Gen. Eric J. Wesley, 1st Infantry Division acting senior mission commander and deputy commanding general for support, told the attendees that the 4th MEB made the 1st Infantry Division better than the “Big Red One” would have otherwise been. Wesley added that although the brigade’s history is relatively brief, the Dauntless legacy is eternal.

“The reason is every Soldier that served in the 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade will forever be hallmarked in the history of the Big Red One and no one can ever take that away from you,” Wesley said.

Munera echoed similar sentiments.

“Today, each and every one of you in the formation should allow yourselves a little extra smile knowing that our contributions to America’s Army and the nation will continue to be felt for years to come,” Munera said.

Previously, the 4th MEB consisted of three organic units and held training and readiness authority for a trifecta of U.S. Army Forces Command, or FORSCOM, battalions on Fort Leonard Wood. These included the 5th Engineer and the 92nd Military Police battalions as well as the recently inactivated 94th Engineer Battalion.

The 5th Engineer Battalion and 92nd MP Battalion are slated to remain on Fort Leonard Wood and will don the unit patches of a duo of Fort Hood, Texas-based outfits, the 36th Engineer Brigade and 89th Military Police Brigade, respectively.

While closing out his speech at the ceremony, Munera shared advice to the formation from an unlikely pairing, an iconic folk rock song and Maj. Gen. Paul E. Funk II, 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, Kansas, commanding general.

“So those of you on the parade field today, I have no doubt that as we transition you to other units, you will continue to be brave, responsible and on-point for our nation,” Munera said. “I am not sure who said it first, Maj. Gen. Funk or Crosby, Stills and Nash, but as you move to different units, remember to ‘love the one you’re with.’”