Brigade Combat Teams

Note: Brigades have long been an important organization within the structure of the Army’s divisions. However at the start of WWII they were eliminated from the Army divisions when the divisions were reorganized into a triangular configuration of three infantry regiments. In 1963 they were reinstituted when the Army’s infantry divisions were reorganized from five infantry battle groups to a configuration of three infantry brigades of three infantry battalions each. In 2004 the Army decided to move from a division-centric to a brigade-centric force. Unlike previous division organizations wherein subordinate units were assigned to the division, under the brigade-centric concept subordinate units are assigned to the brigades. As a result the brigades have been transformed into combined-arms brigade combat teams. It should further be noted that brigades containing a special troops battalion have just a brigade headquarters with the former brigade headquarters company becoming the headquarters and headquarters company of the special troops battalion.

Distinctive Unit Insignia	Unit Designation Motto	First Assigned to	Unit History
	Headquarters and Headquarters Company 1st Brigade Combat Team (Stryker), 25th Infantry Division	21 June 1963	Constituted and organized in 1917 as Headquarters, 167th Infantry Brigade, 84th Division. Converted and redesignated in 1942 as the 84th Reconnaissance Troop (less 3rd Platoon), 84th Division. The 84th Infantry Division entered combat in Holland in November 1944. In response to the German counterattack in the Ardennes the 84th was shifted to Belgium to help stop the German advance. Driving into Germany and meeting strong German resistance the 84th crossed the Roer and Rhine Rivers advancing to the Elbe River and linking up with Soviet forces on 2 May 1945. The 84th Reconnaissance Troop was inactivated in 1946 and reactivated in 1947 as the 84th Reconnaissance Platoon (later Company). 84th Reconnaissance Company disbanded in 1959. Concurrently reconstituted (less 3rd Platoon) in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 167th Infantry Brigade. Redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division and activated 26 August 1963 at Schofield Barracks. Arriving in Vietnam on 29 April 1966, the 1st Brigade was based initially at Cu Chi and participated in all twelve campaigns of the 25th Division receiving a Valorous Unit Award for Tay Ninh Province. The battalions serving with the 1st Brigade were the 4/9th Infantry, 2/14th Infantry (until Feb. 1970), 3/22nd Infantry (from Feb 1970) and 4/23rd Infantry (Mechanized). The 1st Brigade departed Vietnam on 8 December 1970. The 1st Brigade was stationed at Schofield Barracks from 1971 until reassigned to Fort Lewis Washington in 1995. In early 2002 the 1st Brigade began its conversion from a light infantry brigade to a Stryker brigade. It achieved combat-ready status in mid-2004 and began a one-year tour of duty in Iraq in September 2004. The 1st Brigade distinguished itself in the conduct of extensive combat operations against insurgent forces as well as in stability initiatives in and around the city of Mosul. For its conduct of combat operations in Iraq the 1st Brigade and its subordinate units received a Valorous Unit Award and campaign participation credit for the Iraqi Governance campaign. The brigade returned to Fort Lewis in September 2005. On 1 June 2006 the 1st Brigade Combat Team and its subordinate units were inactivated and their personnel and equipment transferred to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (Stryker). On 16 December 2006 the 1st Brigade Combat Team (Stryker) was reactivated at Fort Wainwright, Alaska using the personnel and equipment of the inactivating 172nd Infantry Brigade (Stryker). In September 2008 the 1st Brigade Combat Team (Stryker) began a twelve-month tour of duty in Iraq. The 1st BCT, stationed in Diyala Province northeast of Baghdad, served in the Multi National Division-North’s Task Force Lightning. The brigade successfully conducted combat operations in partnership with Iraqi security forces against insurgent elements as well as implementing numerous civil action projects aimed at improving the quality of life within the province. The 1st BCT earned participation credit for the Iraqi Surge and Iraqi Sovereignty campaigns and returned to Fort Wainwright in September 2009. From May 2011 to May 2012 the 1st BCT was deployed to southern Afghanistan for the first time. During the twelve month deployment the 1st BCT was based in Kandahar Province. Partnered with the Afghan 1st Brigade, 205th Atal Corps as well as Afghan police elements, the capabilities of the 1st BCT significantly enabled Afghan and ISAF forces to conduct offensive operations that resulted in a major reduction of insurgent attacks in the province. For its Afghanistan service the 1st BCT received campaign participation credit for the Consolidation III and Transition I campaigns. Read more about them. For further details on Stryker brigades see our Division history section.
Distinctive Unit Insignia	Unit Designation Motto	First Assigned to	Unit History
	Headquarters and Headquarters Company 2nd Brigade Combat Team (Stryker), 25th Infantry Division	21 June 1963	Constituted and organized in 1917 as Headquarters, 168th Infantry Brigade, 84th Division. Converted and redesignated in 1942 as the 3rd Platoon, 84th Reconnaissance Troop, 84th Division. The 84th Infantry Division entered combat in Holland in November 1944. In response to the German counterattack in the Ardennes the 84th was shifted to Belgium to help stop the German advance. Driving into Germany and meeting strong German resistance the 84th crossed the Roer and Rhine Rivers advancing to the Elbe River and linking up with Soviet forces on 2 May 1945. The 84th Reconnaissance Troop was inactivated in 1946 and reactivated in 1947 as the 84th Reconnaissance Platoon (later Company). 84th Reconnaissance Company was disbanded in 1959. 3rd Platoon, 84th Reconnaissance Company concurrently reconstituted in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Company 168th Infantry Brigade. Redesignated and activated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division 26 August 1963 at Schofield Barracks. Arriving in Vietnam on 20 January 1966, the 2nd Brigade was based initially at Cu Chi and participated in all twelve campaigns of the 25th Division receiving a Valorous Unit Award for Cu Chi District. The battalions serving with the 2nd Brigade were the 1/5th Infantry (Mechanized), 1/27th Infantry and 2/27th Infantry. Upon the departure of the 25th Infantry Division at color guard strength on 8 December 1970 for Schofield Barracks, the 2nd Brigade was placed under the control of II Field Force and operated out of Long Binh and Xuan Loc. It was composed of the 1/5th Infantry (Mechanized), 2/12th Infantry, 3/22nd Infantry, 1/27th Infantry and the 1/8th Artillery. The 2nd Brigade left Vietnam on 30 April 1971 at color guard strength for Schofield Barracks. The brigade was kept at zero strength until 5 June 1972 when it was brought to full strength. It consisted of the 1/14th Infantry 1/21st Infantry and 1/35th Infantry. In 1986 the 1/35th was replaced by the 4/22nd Infantry and then in 1995 the 4/22nd was replaced by the 1/27th Infantry. The 2nd Brigade served in Iraq from January 2004-February 2005 while attached to the 1st Infantry Division. Organized as a brigade combat team its five battalions, 1-14 Infantry, 1-21 Infantry, 1-27 Infantry, 2-11 Field Artillery and 225 Support Battalion, were organized into task forces and conducted security and stability operations primarily in and around the city of Kirkuk. The 2nd Brigade was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation and campaign participation credits for the Transition of Iraq and the Iraqi Governance campaigns. In late 2005 the 2nd Brigade began reorganizing from a light infantry brigade to a Stryker brigade combat team. By July 2007 the 2nd Brigade Combat Team had received its full complement of Stryker vehicles and departed for combat readiness training and certification in California. From December 2007 to March 2009 the 2nd Brigade Combat Team (Stryker) served a fifteen-month tour of duty in Iraq. It served with the Multi-National Division-Baghdad and was based at Camp Taji northwest of Baghdad. The brigade was responsible for the rural areas northwest and west of Baghdad successfully operating with Iraqi security forces in eliminating terrorist cells and locating and destroying numerous weapons caches, earning its second Meritorious Unit Commendation and credit for the Iraq National Resolution campaign. In July 2010 the 2nd Brigade Combat Team (Stryker) began a twelve month tour in Iraq. The 2nd BCT operated from Forward Operating Base War Horse in Baquba, the provincial capitol of Diyala Province, with the mission of advising and assisting Iraqi Security Forces and supporting reconstruction efforts within the province. The 2nd BCT returned to Schofield Barracks in June 2011.
Distinctive Unit Insignia	Unit Designation Motto	First Assigned to	Unit History
	Headquarters, 3rd Brigade Combat Team (Infantry), 25th Infantry Division	21 June 1963	Headquarters, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division was first constituted and organized in 1921 as Headquarters, 198th Infantry Brigade, 98th Division at Albany, NY. In 1942 it was reorganized and redesignated as the 98th Reconnaissance Troop (less 3rd Platoon) and ordered into Federal service. The 98th Infantry Division initially served from April 1944 to May 1945 as the defense force for the Hawaiian Islands. After V-J Day, the 98th Division was sent to Japan for occupation duty. Inactivated in1946, the 98th Reconnaissance Troop was reactivated in the Organized Reserves in 1947. It was redesignated as the 98th Reconnaissance Company and then disbanded 1 May 1959. Concurrently reconstituted (less 3rd Platoon) in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 195th Infantry Brigade. It was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade 25th Infantry Division on 21 June 1963. The 3rd Brigade was sent to Pleiku, Vietnam by a massive airlift named Operation Blue Light from 28 December 1965 to 17 January 1966. Under the operational control of I Field Force, the 3rd Brigade composed of the 1/14th Infantry, 1/35th Infantry, 2/35th Infantry, 2/9th Artillery, 1/69th Armor and Troop C, 3/4th Cavalry operated along the Cambodian border. In April 1967 the 3rd Brigade was attached to Task Force Oregon and engaged Viet Cong units in Quang Ngai Province receiving a Valorous Unit Award. On 1 August 1967 Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade less personnel and equipment rejoined the 25th Division. Its battalions remained in the central highlands and were reassigned to the 4th Division. Based at Dau Tieng, the 3rd Brigade, 25th Division assumed command of the former 3rd Brigade, 4th Division units, the 2/12th Infantry, 2/22nd Infantry (Mechanized) and 3/22nd Infantry. The 2/14th Infantry replaced 3/22nd Infantry in Feb. 1970. The 3rd Brigade received credit for twelve Vietnam campaigns. On 8 December 1970 it returned to Schofield Barracks less personnel and equipment and was inactivated on 24 July 1972. The 3rd Brigade was reactivated on 16 November 1985 at Schofield Barracks. The Brigade was composed of the 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry, the 4th Battalion, 27th Infantry and the 4th Battalion, 87th Infantry. On 16 August 1995 the three infantry battalions were replaced by the 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry, the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry and the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry. The 3rd Brigade Combat Team served a one year tour of duty in Afghanistan from April 2004 -April 2005. The brigade was organized as Task Force (TF) Bronco. It included the 2-5 Infantry, 2-35 Infantry, 3-7 Field Artillery and the 3-4 Cavalry. All of these units were also organized as task forces. TF Bronco was based at Kandahar Airfield and was responsible for security and stability operations for the Regional Command South. On 16 November 2005 the 3rd Brigade Combat team was reorganized under the modular concept. The following units are assigned to the 3rd Brigade: 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery, Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade, and the 325th Support Battalion. In August 2006 the brigade began a tour of duty in northern Iraq. The 3rd Brigade Combat Team was based at Forward Operating Base Warrior in the northern Iraq city of Kirkuk. The 3rd Brigade Combat Team completed a fifteen month tour of duty in October 2007, earning a Meritorious Unit Commendation and receiving campaign participation credit for the Iraq National Governance campaign. The 3rd Brigade Combat Team returned to Iraq in October 2008 for a twelve month tour of duty. The 3rd BCT was stationed in Salah ad Din Province in northern Iraq. The 3rd BCT successfully accomplished its missions of partnering with the Iraqi Forces in increasing province security as well as its mission to improve the quality of life in the province. Particular success was achieved in expanding schools, improving access to water and electricity and increasing business opportunities. The 3rd Brigade Combat Team earned participation credit for the Iraqi Surge and Iraqi Sovereignty campaign phases and returned to Schofield Barracks in October 2009. The 3d BCT returned to Afghanistan after an absence of six years in April 2011 and on 3 May 2011 as part of Regional Command- East, assumed responsibility for security and stability operations for Nangarhar, Kunar and Nuristan provinces located along the border with Pakistan. The 3rd BCT completed its twelve month deployment to Afghanistan effective 8 April 2012 and returned to Schofield Barracks. For this deployment, the 3rd BCT earned participation credit for the Afghanistan Consolidation III and Transition I campaigns.
Distinctive Unit Insignia	Unit Designation Motto	First Assigned to	Unit History
	Headquarters, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division	6 December 1969	Constituted in the Regular Army and activated 6 December 1969 at Schofield Barracks. The mission of the 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division was to serve as a strategic reserve for contingencies in the Pacific area other than Vietnam. The 4th Brigade was composed of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry, the 3rd Battalion, 14th Infantry, the 3rd Battalion, 27th Infantry, the 5th Battalion, 13th Artillery, Troop H, 10th Cavalry, the 76th Engineer Company and the 425th Support Battalion. Upon the return of the 25th Infantry Division to Schofield Barracks, the 4th Brigade was inactivated on 15 December 1970. On 16 July 2005 Headquarters, 4th Brigade was reactivated as Headquarters, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division and activated at Fort Richardson, Alaska. The brigade is composed of the 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry, 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry, 2nd Battalion, 377th Field Artillery, Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade and the 725th Support Battalion. All of the units are on Airborne (parachute) status. The 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) served a fifteen month tour of duty in Iraq beginning in October 2006. Based at FOB Kalsu the brigade primarily served in Babil, Karbala and Najaf provinces with battalions also serving in Anbar Province and in Baghdad. The brigade returned to Fort Richardson in December 2007. The 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) deployed to eastern Afghanistan for a twelve month tour of duty beginning in February 2009. The 4th BCT conducted security, stability and reconstruction missions along the Pakistan border in the provinces of Paktika, Paktiya and Khost with the two infantry battalions operating in Paktika, the cavalry squadron in Paktiya and the field artillery battalion in Khost. The 4th BCT earned participation credit for the Afghanistan Consolidation II campaign phase and returned to Fort Richardson in February 2010. In December 2011 the 4th BCT returned to Afghanistan for a nine month deployment. The 4th BCT was stationed at Forward Operating Base Salerno which is located in Khost Province near the eastern border of Afghanistan. In October 2012 the 4th BCT officially ended its nine month deployment to eastern Afghanistan. On 6 October 2012 the 4th BCT turned over operational responsibility for Forward Operating Base Salarno and Paktia and Khost Provinces to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. By the end of October all elements of the 4th BCT had returned to their home station at Fort Richardson, Alaska. For this deployment the 4th BCT earned Afghanistan campaign participation credit for the Consolidation III and Transition I campaigns.