1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division (United States)
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| 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division | |
|---|---|
 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division's Insignia |
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| Active | May 24, 1917 - October 11, 1939 |
| Branch | Regular Army |
| Type | Brigade Combat Team |
| Role | Infantry |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Riley |
| Nickname | Big Red One |
| Motto | "Duty First" |
| Colors | Red and Blue |
| Mascot | Devil |
| Engagements | World War I Vietnam Operation Desert Shield Operation Desert Storm Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Colonel Jeffrey Ingram |
The 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division is the oldest permanent brigade in the United States Army and has some of the oldest units in the United States Army. HHC, 1st Brigade has participated in Campaigns of World War I, Vietnam, Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Its most notable campaigns include the Aisne-Marne, Meuse-Argonne, Picardy, Tet Counteroffensive and the Liberation and Defense of Kuwait. Since Desert Storm, the "Devil" Brigade participated in numerous rotations to the National Training Center, deployments to Bosnia, Kuwait and a deployment to Korea to participate in a 2nd Infantry Division exercise. On 23 July 2003, US Forces Command alerted the 1st Brigade Combat Team for deployment to the Iraq Theater of Operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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[edit] History
[edit] World War I
Headquarters and Headquarters Company was constituted May 24, 1917 into the Regular Army as Headquarters, 1st Brigade, an element of the 1st Expeditionary Division (later redesignated as the 1st Infantry Division).
[edit] World War II
The 1st Infantry Brigade was stationed at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island, New York as part of the 1st Infantry Division until October 11, 1939, when it was inactivated when the Division was converted to a Triangular Table of Organization and Equipment.
[edit] Operation Iraqi Freedom
On 23 July 2003, US Army Forces Command alerted the 1st Brigade Combat Team (BCT) for deployment to the Iraq Theater of Operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Brigade deployed its main body starting on 2 September, closing in Kuwait by 11 September. Initially attached to the 82nd Airborne Division, the brigade occupied Area of Operations Topeka and conducted Transition of Authority with the 3rd Squadron, 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, on 26 September. On 20 March 2004, CJTF-7 attached 1st Brigade to the 1st Marine Division to continue its offensive operations in AO Topeka.
In the following twelve months, the brigade's offensive operations killed 541 insurgents, wounded 101 more, and detained over 2,081 enemy fighters, including the capture of 18 High Value Targets and 20 foreign fighters. The brigade responded to hundreds of small arms and RPG engagements, as well as over 550 IED (Improvised explosive device) attacks. In order to disrupt the enemy's ability to conduct operations, the brigade captured 41 heavy machine guns, 175 RPG launchers, 3,134 mortar and artillery rounds, 1,781 rockets, and 17 surface-to-air missiles. In addition to combat operations, the brigade formed and trained the 60th Iraqi National Guard Brigade, including the 500th, 501st, and 502nd ING Battalions. 1st Brigade also sponsored over $23.8 million dollars in civil projects in the Al Anbar province. The BCT returned to Fort Riley in September 2004.
In January 2005 the 1st Brigade was again called upon to prepare for deployment for OIF. The brigade spent the majority of 2005 refitting and training for deployment in fall 2005. This training culminated with the brigade's deployment to the Joint Readiness Training Center in August and September 2005.
In January 2006 the 1st Brigade received a mission change and began restructuring in order to better train Military Transition Teams for their deployment.
Several Security Force Companies, or SECFOR companies, began preparing to deploy to Iraq in the fall of 2006.
[edit] Motto
The Devil Brigade's motto is "No mission too difficult, no sacrifice too great - DUTY FIRST!"
[edit] References
- 1st Brigade History, U.S Army (accessed November 17 2005)
