Email   Print   Share By Spc. Kim Browne, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

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Lieutenant Col. Peter Little (left), former chief of operations, 1st Cavalry Division, presents Maj. Gen. Daniel Allyn, 1st Cav. Div. commander, with a painting that represents British and American Soldiers fighting together as a token of his appreciation during his two-year tour with the division. Spc. Kim Browne, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

Lieutenant Col. Peter Little, former chief of operations, 1st Cav. Div., is promoted from major to lieutenant colonel by Col. Kurt Pinkerton, former division G3, in a ceremony July 1 at the division headquarters. Spc. Kim Browne, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

A pivotal moment in a 1st Cavalry Division Soldier’s career is when he or she gets promoted or receives an award. These promotions and awards show recognition for a job well done.

For the past two years, the 1st Cav. Div. has had Lt. Col Peter Little, a British exchange officer, serve as the chief of operations for the division. In a July 1 ceremony, the Fleet, Hampshire, United Kingdom native was promoted to lieutenant colonel and awarded the Order of Saint Maurice, the Order of Saint Barbara and the Noble Patron of Armor. He also was given a farewell saber from the division operations section.

While deployed with the division from Jan. 2009 to July 2009, Little was responsible for the command and control of five brigade combat teams consisting of more than 30,000 Soldiers and their integration with six Iraqi army and National Police divisions.

Upon his redeployment, he assumed the duties of the division’s operations rear detachment.

“He performed masterfully in his position and seamlessly integrated the redeployment, reset planning, and preparation or follow-on missions for all the division’s units,” said Lt. Col. Geoffrey Norman, deputy operations officer for the division.

With the Army’s Personnel Exchange Program at Fort Hood, Little fulfilled program objectives such as encouraging the mutual confidence, understanding and respect necessary to enable harmonious relationships between the Army and the armies of other nations.

Several members from the division operations section agreed that he excelled in accomplishing objectives, adding that Little was loyal and dedicated to the Cav and its Soldiers.

Little said the relationship between the Brits and Americans is so critical that it was a pleasure to have contributed to its Soldiers.

He is not a stranger to tradition. The British Armed Forces have many traditions and a strong lineage, making his transition into the division easier.

“I had no idea it was going to be quite so traditional,” Little said. “(We) pride ourselves in being very traditional in the British army and in our regiments but the 1st Cav is just as traditional.”

Having served in the U.S. Army before, he mentioned he found tradition as important to Cav troops as to any in the United Kingdom.

“Same support structure and pride,” he added.

Since Little’s tour with the Cav is over, he is scheduled to return to London this month, where he will be assigned to the Permanent Joint Headquarters, Afghanistan Desk.

When asked how he felt about leaving the Cav and returning home, he said he was disappointed. He said there are many good people within the division and he was very sad to leave.

“There are also another eight states I need to see,” he joked.

Upon conclusion of the ceremony, Little said that he felt a true affinity to the division’s Soldiers.

“There is no difference between British and American Soldiers, they all bleed the same and we’re all fighting the battle at the same time.”