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278th Armored Cavalry |
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278th Armd Cav Regiment (OIF 3 - aka 278th Regimental Combat Team), Tennessee Army NG
I Volunteer Sir! |
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The 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR) is one of two "Heavy" ACRs still in existance. The 278th ACR, also known as the "Tennessee Cavalry" is the only ACR in the Army National Guard and is Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The other ACR is the U.S. Army's 3rd ACR "Brave Rifles" which is stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado.
The "Regiment" (278th ACR) was designated as an "Enhanced Brigade" during the 1980's as one of 15 "Enhanced" E-Brigades within the Army National Guard so designated by the DoD and U.S. Army. E-Brigades were resourced at higher priorities for equipment upgrades, funding and training resources. E-Brigades were comprised of both light and heavy organizations and included in defense plans with close ties being maintained between them (E-Brigades) and their active Army counterparts (Brigades, Divisions, and Corps). Of the 15 E-Brigades designated within DoD and NGB, eleven (11) have been deployed or will be deployed to Iraq since the beginning of "Operation Iraqi Freedom."
The 278th ACR was formed and reorganized on 21 June 1977 from units and elements of the 278th Infantry Brigade. Additionally, units of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 117th Infantry Regiment and several other units of various types from the Tennessee Army National Guard were added to round out the "Regiment".
The 278th ACR is comprised of a Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Cavalry Squadrons, a 4th (Aviation) Squadron and a Support Squadron. In addition, there are five separate units which complete the regiment. These are the 190th Engineer Company, 278th Air Defense Artillery Battery, 278th Chemical Company, 278th Military Intelligence Company, and D Company, 107th Aviation Intermediate Maintenence (AVIM).
The Regiment's motto "I Volunteer, Sir" is taken from a time in Tennessee's past history.
In 1846, a call went out for 2,800 Volunteers from the State of Tennessee to take part in the War with Mexico. 38,000 Tennesseans answered the call earning the Tennessee Militia the ever-lasting nickname of "Volunteers."
Because there were so many volunteers willing to fight, a special lottery was held to select those men who would be allowed to fight. From this heritage, the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment's motto "I Volunteer Sir" was derived.
The 278th Regimental Shoulder Patch was derived using the green color traditionally associated with Cavalry and Armor. The three white stars are adapted from the flag of the State of Tennessee. The blue divisions allude to the Tennessee, Houlston, and French Broad Rivers, environs of the Regiment.
The white border accents the division between the colors.
In March 2004 the Regiment was alerted and mobilized in support of "Operation Iraqi Freedom III", (third phase of deployment of U.S. forces to Iraq). The regiment has taken on a slightly difference look for this mobilization. It is being referred to as the "278th Regimental Combat Team", of which this organization derives a portion of its history.
The regiment is currently deployed to Iraq in support of "Operation Iraqi Freedom III". Soldiers of the 278th are primarily assigned in the Diy'Ala province to the north and east of Baghdad near the Iranian border . The regiment replaced the 30th Heavy Seperate Brigade of the North Carolina, Army National Guard which controlled the same area for the previous year and will be replaced by elements of the 101st Airborne Division later this year.
"God go with the Men and Women of the 278th and keep them safe and strong."
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