FORT CAMPBELL, KY (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The 101st Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion cased their colors in a ceremony Tuesday to mark the division’s nine-month deployment to Europe.

The Screaming Eagle soldiers are deploying to the European Command theater of operations to assure NATO allies and deter Russian aggression in the region. Hundreds of soldiers have already left Fort Campbell and, in all, approximately 4,700 101st soldiers will deploy to locations across Europe.

101st Command Sergeant Major Veronica Knapp, and 101st Commander Major General JP McGee, case the colors at the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Colors Casing Ceremony at 101st Division Headquarters in preparation for deployment to Europe on, July 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
101st soldiers at the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Colors Casing Ceremony at 101st Division Headquarters in preparation for deployment to Europe on, July 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
101st soldiers at the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Colors Casing Ceremony at 101st Division Headquarters in preparation for deployment to Europe on, July 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
101st soldiers at the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Colors Casing Ceremony at 101st Division Headquarters in preparation for deployment to Europe on, July 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
101st soldiers at the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Colors Casing Ceremony at 101st Division Headquarters in preparation for deployment to Europe on, July 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
101st soldiers at the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Colors Casing Ceremony at 101st Division Headquarters in preparation for deployment to Europe on, July 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
101st soldiers at the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Colors Casing Ceremony at 101st Division Headquarters in preparation for deployment to Europe on, July 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
101st soldiers at the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Colors Casing Ceremony at 101st Division Headquarters in preparation for deployment to Europe on, July 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Commander of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Major General JP McGee, speaking at the Colors Casing Ceremony in preparation for deployment to Europe on, July 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
101st soldiers at the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Colors Casing Ceremony at 101st Division Headquarters in preparation for deployment to Europe on, July 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Incoming 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Deputy Commanding Officer-Support, Colonel Scott Wilkinson, at an Honor Eagle Ceremony at 101st Division Headquarters on, July 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Outgoing 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Chief Staff Colonel Stephen Shrader at an Honor Eagle Ceremony at 101st Division Headquarters on, July 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Outgoing 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Chief Staff Colonel Stephen Shrader at an Honor Eagle Ceremony at 101st Division Headquarters on, July 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Outgoing 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Chief Staff Colonel Stephen Shrader at an Honor Eagle Ceremony at 101st Division Headquarters on, July 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
101st soldiers at the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Colors Casing Ceremony at 101st Division Headquarters in preparation for deployment to Europe on, July 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin)

The commanding general of the 101st, Maj. Gen. JP McGee, spoke to soldiers and community members gathered outside Division Headquarters at Fort Campbell.

“For 80 years, the 101st Airborne Division has had the official motto, ‘If you want it done ask the 101.’ Today our nation is asking the 101 to do a critically important mission a mere 250 miles from the fighting in Ukraine, knowing full well that what happens in Europe, we will get it done. This division is prepared, and our families are strong,” McGee said.

The commander of the 101st Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, Lt. Col. Benjamin Everett, talked about the deployment. “As Maj. Gen. McGee said, this will be the first time the 101st has been back in Europe since the ’70s, so the soldiers are extremely excited to get back into the area. It’s going to be a great deployment and we’re looking forward to doing the 101st and the local area proud,” Everett said.

The colors under which a unit fights represent the history of the soldiers of the unit. The colors will remain cased until the units arrive in Europe.

Before the ceremony, an Honor Eagle Ceremony was held to welcome the new deputy commanding officer-support, Col. Scott Wilkinson. An Honor Eagle Ceremony was also held to bid farewell to outgoing Chief of Staff Col. Stephen Shrader.