Maj. Gen. Anthony Ierardi (Photo by Rachel Cox)

KILLEEN (December 12, 2012)—Maj. Gen. Anthony Ierardi, the commander of Fort Hood’s 1st Cavalry Division, met Wednesday with post-area community leaders at a Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee luncheon.

He outlined the trip some of his troops will soon take to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin in California.

"What we will see in this particular national training center rotation is the requirement to conduct that broad range of tasks which includes a combined arms maneuver using all of the capabilities that the division has at its disposal," Ierardi said.

There are still 4,000 troops from the division’s 4th Brigade Combat Team in Afghanistan.

Ierardi said soldier and family readiness have also been a big focus for his troops.