 On 21 August 2010, the brigade cased its colors in Kuwait for movement back to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, officially uncasing them on 7 October 2010.The brigade combat team was formally notified to prepare for a deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on 19 April 2012.The brigade combat team's preparation included a Unified Endeavor Mission Command Exercise with the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia in May 2012; a mission readiness exercise at the National Training Center in June 2012; and a brigade-directed small unit counter-improvised explosive device validation and advanced situation awareness training exercise at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.