Iron veterans and families are invited to enjoy static displays of tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and a variety of other equipment and talk with Soldiers who operate and maintain them from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, as part of Torch Week 2019. Static displays and family activities will be on Bulldog field, located in front of 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team headquarters, located at Bldg. 20400 Ansbach Way on East Bliss. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Felicia Jagdatt, 1st Armored Division)

1st Armored Division Torch Week: Nov. 4-8

By 1st AD Public Affairs

Torch Week, an annual celebration of the legacy of the 1st Armored Division – honoring past and present Iron Soldiers of America’s Tank Division – is Nov. 4-8.

 The week is traditionally held in November to commemorate Operation Torch, when U.S. forces invaded North Africa during World War II, Nov. 8-16, 1942.

This year, with the majority of the 1st AD headquarters deployed, as well as elements of its sustainment brigade, DIVARTY and the combat aviation brigade, Torch Week will be smaller in scale than previous years, and it will include an increased awareness of the 1st AD Soldiers currently deployed.

One of the long-standing traditions of Torch Week includes interacting with and honoring veterans in the local area. On Wednesday from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. veterans, Iron family members and those with base access are invited to visit static displays of tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and a variety of other equipment, as well as talk with Soldiers who operate and maintain them. 

The displays and family activities will be on Bulldog Field, located in front of 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team headquarters, Bldg. 20400 Ansbach Way on East Bliss.

Torch Week events this year will feature basketball, softball, ultimate frisbee, 5K/ 10K races, a golf scramble, a family bowling derby, and a combatives tournament. The sports competitions are an opportunity to promote physical fitness, build camaraderie and esprit de corps throughout the division and Fort Bliss.

A new event this year, the functional fitness challenge, was added with readiness for the Army Combat Fitness Test in mind. Conducted in teams of four, Soldiers will compete in challenges that reflect the physical demands associated with the ACFT to include deadlifts, bench presses, tire flips, sandbag carry, running and pull-ups – while wearing full tactical equipment.

Torch Week culminates with an awards ceremony and the Saint George Ball Thursday. 

Tickets for the ball are currently on sale through brigade representatives. Soldiers should contact their chain of command for more information. 

Follow 1st AD on social media for event coverage and announcements: @1stArmoredDivision on Facebook, @1stArmoredDiv on Twitter and @1starmoreddivision on Instagram.