“Army Pfc. Jomarie I. Harris helps in-process a new soldier to the brigade at Fort Lewis, Wash. Harris is a part of the Army’s new Initial Brigade Combat Team here.Photos by Keith BrownFORT LEWIS, Wash.–In the early 20th Century soldiers faced a transformation. Gone were the hordes of cavalry on horseback charging with drawn sabers. In their place came rumbling tanks rolling with metal tracks, steel armor and immense firepower. A century later, the daughter of a Langley couple is going through changes even more dramatic.Army Pfc. Jomarie I. Harris, daughter of Jim Hornton and Shirley Webb of Langley, is a member of a completely new type of unit designed to meet the challenges of the post-Cold War world.In response to conflicts such as Kosovo, Bosnia and Haiti, the new unit, called the Initial Brigade Combat Team, is being assembled as a lighter, more mobile and faster deploying force.The first unit to undergo the change is the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, where Harris is a personnel administration specialist with the brigade headquarters.I’m the brigade personnel office awards clerk, explained Harris. I process all incoming awards from all the brigade’s battalions to be signed by the brigade commander.The ultimate goal of the transformation is to have a medium force able to deploy with the speed of current light infantry forces, but arrive on the scene with more of the combat power of tank forces.To do this, the brigade has exchanged its 70-ton Abrams tanks for smaller, wheeled LAV III light armored vehicles that can drive down narrow city streets and over small bridges. The brigade, deployable by plane to anywhere in the world in 96 hours, has also been beefed up with increased intelligence gathering capabilities, including unmanned aerial vehicles.The Army isn’t getting rid of its heavy armor or light infantry, but creating a new style of unit with the latest in technology and weapons systems to handle the missions not suited to more traditional fighting forces, such as peacekeeping and humanitarian relief.Harris is helping to develop the tactics, techniques and procedures for his brigade that will become the model for future brigades.We’re transforming to a medium brigade that’s deployable within 96 hours, said Harris. We’re also changing the vehicles we use to the LAV III.Since the transformation began last year, Harris has become an integral player, helping the brigade deactivate units, create new ones and prepare for a scheduled initial operating capability by December 2001.The retooling of a more than 3,000 soldier-strong fighting force has been a learning experience for Harris and her colleagues in the 3rd Brigade.Working in the personnel office, I see all the new faces coming into the brigade every day, said Harris. Sometimes as many as 15 new soldiers are reporting in to the brigade in a day. It’s very exciting to be a part of this. “