FORT CAMPBELL, KY (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The 101st Airborne Division is about to send more troops to Eastern Europe, this time about 3,400 soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team “Rakkasans.”

The Department of the Army announced the deployment in a news release on Wednesday.

The 3rd BCT will replace the division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team “Bastogne” in a one-for-one replacement that will not change the overall U.S. force posture in the region. 1st BCT is scheduled to return following a nine-month deployment that began in March 2023.

The 3rd BCT deployment will begin in the next couple of months, the release said. They will join various other units reinforcing NATO’s Eastern Flank in support of the U.S. commitment to Europe and regional Allies as part of the ongoing response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“The mission to reinforce our NATO partners remains vital to maintaining security on the European continent,” said Maj. Gen. Brett Sylvia, commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division. “For the last six months, our 1st Brigade has done an incredible job supporting the Operation European Assure, Deter and Reinforce mission. I am confident the Rakkasans of 3rd Brigade will continue to represent our division with distinction alongside our European partners and allies.”