The130th Engineer Brigade hosted an activation and deployment ceremony for the engineers of Task Force Ready and 95th Engineer Company, Sept. 2, at Hamilton Field, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, in preparation for the their nine-month deployment to Korea as part of U.S. Army Pacific's Korean Rotational Forces.

Task Force Ready is a battalion of approximately 140 engineers from the 95th and more than 250 engineers from 59th Mobility Augmentation Company and 74th Multi-Role Bridge Company out of Fort hood, Texas, who will provide mission command and engineer capabilities in support of Eighth Army and 2nd Infantry Division. More than 45 members of the Korean Augmentation to the Unites States Army (KATUSA) will join the Task Force when it arrives in Korea.

During the ceremony, Lt. Col. Brian S. Smith also assumed command of Task Force Ready.

"HRC (Human Resources Command) chose the perfect officer for this challenging mission and the Soldiers of this task force are lucky to have him," said Col. Blace C. Albert, commander of the 130th En. Bde. "I know, without a doubt, that he will accomplish all missions while keeping the welfare of his Soldiers at the forefront of his concerns."

TFR is comprised of more than 20 Military Occupational Specialties, including route clearance, mobility augmentation and bridge building.

"Task Force Ready has a cadre of officers who are highly proficient and competent in their respective areas of responsibilities," Smith said. "Their skills are further augmented by an outstanding NCO (noncommissioned officer) corps who are truly the backbone of the unit."

These rotations are designed to support the U.S. security commitment to the ROK as specified by the mutual defense treaty and presidential agreements between the ROK and U.S.

"These troops have been tested in battle and hardened by war so that they stand tall before us today, ready to undertake any mission that is assigned to us," Smith said.