170th Infantry Brigade (United States)

170th Infantry Brigade (United States)
Unit name	170th Infantry Brigade
Dates	1917–1919; 1963–1971; 2009–2013
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Brigade
Battles	World War I, War in Afghanistan

170th Infantry Brigade (United States) was a United States Army Infantry brigade with a history spanning three distinct periods of activation. Initially formed for service in World War I, it was later reactivated during the Cold War as part of the Strategic Army Corps. Its final and most recent activation was in 2009 as a modular brigade under the United States Army Europe command, where it deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom before its inactivation in 2013.

History

The brigade was first constituted in the National Army on 5 August 1917 as part of the 85th Infantry Division at Camp Custer, Michigan. It deployed to the Western Front in France during World War I, where it served as a depot and replacement training unit, but did not see combat as a formed brigade. After the Armistice of 11 November 1918, it returned to the United States and was inactivated at Camp Custer in 1919. The unit was reactivated on 1 February 1963 at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, as part of the Strategic Army Corps and the Army Reserve's reorganization, where it trained reserve components until its inactivation on 31 December 1971. On 15 October 2009, the brigade was activated once more in Baumholder, Germany, as a modular brigade under United States Army Europe and V Corps, transforming from the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division. It deployed to northern Afghanistan in 2011, assuming responsibility for Regional Command North and conducting operations in provinces like Kunduz and Balkh before returning to Germany and inactivating on 9 October 2013.

Organization

During its World War I service, the brigade was a standard "square" infantry brigade within the 85th Infantry Division, comprising the 339th and 340th Infantry Regiments. Its 1960s reactivation saw it organized as a ROAD brigade with three infantry battalions and a support battalion, focused on training Army Reserve and Army National Guard units. As a modular brigade for its 2009-2013 period, it was structured under the Army Force Generation model, typically consisting of two combined arms battalions (like the 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment and the 4th Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment), a cavalry squadron (the 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment), a field artillery battalion (the 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment), and a brigade support battalion.

Commanders

Notable commanders of the brigade include Colonel (later Major General) John H. Hay, who commanded during its initial activation and World War I service. During its 1960s era, command rotated among officers overseeing its reserve training mission. For its final activation, key commanders were Colonel Patrick M. Frank, who led the brigade through its activation and preparation for deployment, and Colonel James C. Johnson, who commanded the unit during its combat tour in Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012.

Campaign participation credit

The brigade earned campaign participation credit for World War I, specifically for service in the AEF theater without engagement in named campaigns. For its service in the War in Afghanistan, the brigade received campaign credit for the Transition I campaign phase, reflecting its role in the transition of security responsibilities to the Afghan National Security Forces in Regional Command North.

Distinctive unit insignia

The brigade's distinctive unit insignia was approved for its 1960s iteration. The design featured a blue shield with a white chevron, symbolizing its original assignment to the 85th Infantry Division (whose shoulder sleeve insignia included a red diamond), and a fleur-de-lis representing its World War I service in France. The motto "Firmiter et Fideliter" (Firmly and Faithfully) was inscribed on a scroll below the shield.

Current status

The 170th Infantry Brigade was inactivated in a ceremony at Smith Barracks in Baumholder, Germany, on 9 October 2013, as part of a broader Department of Defense drawdown of forces in Europe. Its personnel and equipment were redistributed to other units within United States Army Europe, and its lineage and honors are maintained by the United States Army Center of Military History.

Category:Infantry brigades of the United States Army Category:Military units and formations established in 1917