When the army's regimental system began affiliating separate units with existing regiments The 1-509th based in Vicenza Italy was re-flagged as the 4/325 Airborne Battalion Combat Team (ABCT) Part of the NATO's Southern European Task Force (SETAF) In June 1986 The 4/325 began to rotate to Ft Bragg NC as the 3/325 rotated to Italy to assume the duties of the ABCT. During the Cold War the 3/325th ABCT was called upon to prepare/deploy as a rapid strike force to secure hostile airfields for follow on forces in several scenarios in the middle east including Operation Prime Chance in 1987.