NEW ORLEANS – This November, the Louisiana National Guard’s 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, known as the Tiger Brigade, will mark 20 years since returning from its historic deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III. One of its core battalions, the 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment, was initially left out of the mobilization.

Due to Army organizational processes at the time, the 3-156th was not officially included when the brigade first mobilized; however, Brig. Gen. John Basilica, commander of the 256th, ensured that 3rd Battalion personnel were included. Initially, the 3-156th Soldiers were cross-leveled into other battalions. During the train-up phase, about 20 Soldiers from the 3-156th formed an ad hoc task force called Task Force Bandit. By the time the br

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