First organized in 1942, as Combat Command A, 1st Armored Division, the unit has fought in North Africa and Italy in World War II, as well as 4 tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom. As the 3rd Constabulary Regiment, the brigade conducted stability operations in Germany after World War II. After service at Fort Hood and in Germany during the Cold War, the brigade conducted three peacekeeping rotations in the Balkans (Bosnia, Macedonia and Kosovo).
Organization
The current organization of the brigade, as of November 2019, is as follows;
1st Armored Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Company
Organized in the Regular Army at Fort Knox, Kentucky, as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Combat Command A, 1st Armored Division on January 1, 1942.
Reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Combat Command A, 1st Armored Division on July 20, 1944.
Converted and redesignated on May 1, 1946, as Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3d Constabulary Regiment, and relieved from assignment to the 1st Armored Division
The unit was Inactivated September 20, 1947 in Germany.
Converted and redesignated 27 February 1951 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Combat Command A, 1st Armored Division
Activated 7 March 1951 at Fort Hood, Texas
Reorganized and redesignated 3 February 1962 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division in Vilseck, West Germany. While stationed in Vilseck, the Brigade deployed to Operation Desert Storm / Operation Desert Shield, in Kuwait / Iraq; Operation Allied Force/ Operation Joint Guardian in the Balkans, and then to Operation Iraqi Freedom 2x and Operation Enduring Freedom 1x.
Headquarters, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, reorganized and redesignated 16 September 2008 as Headquarters, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division (Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, concurrently reorganized and redesignated as Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division) Ft. Bliss, Texas.
Headquarters, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, consolidated 16 January 2011 with Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, and consolidated unit concurrently reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division
Campaign participation credit
The 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division participated in the World War II campaigns of: Tunisia; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; North Apennines; and Po Valley.
In the War On Terrorism, the brigade has participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Freedom Sentinel.
Decorations
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2004
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2009-2010
Navy Unit Commendation, Streamer embroidered ANBAR PROVINCE 2006-2007
Army Superior Unit Award, Streamer embroidered 1995-1996
Headquarters Company additionally entitled to:
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ NOV 2009-NOV 2010
