1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division

1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division
Unit name	1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division
Dates	Activated 1941–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Role	Combined arms operations
Size	Brigade
Command structure	25th Infantry Division
Garrison	Schofield Barracks

1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division is an infantry brigade combat team of the United States Army assigned to the 25th Infantry Division and stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. The brigade has served in the Pacific theater during World War II, the Vietnam War, and in 21st‑century operations including Iraq and Afghanistan, participating in campaigns alongside formations from the United States Pacific Command, United States Indo-Pacific Command, Joint Task Force elements, and allied forces such as the Australian Army and New Zealand Army. Its lineage links to formations that fought in engagements connected to the Battle of Guadalcanal, the Tet Offensive, and operations associated with the Global War on Terrorism.

History

Activated as part of the 25th Infantry Division during the pre‑World War II expansion of the United States Army, the brigade traces organizational roots to infantry units that deployed to the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II and fought in campaigns around the Solomon Islands and Philippine Islands. Postwar reorganizations during the Pentomic reorganization and later the ROAD reforms reshaped the brigade into its contemporary brigade combat team format. During the Vietnam era the brigade, operating under division command, participated in counterinsurgency and conventional operations related to the Tet Offensive and worked alongside units from the Americal Division and 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). In the 21st century the brigade was mobilized for operations in the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan, integrating with joint and coalition partners from commands such as United States Central Command and supporting missions tied to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.

Organization and Structure

Organized as an Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) under the structure employed by the United States Army Forces Command, the brigade typically comprises infantry battalions, a cavalry squadron for reconnaissance, a field artillery battalion, a brigade engineer battalion, and a brigade support battalion. Historically subordinate units have included battalions affiliated with the 27th Infantry Regiment, the 14th Infantry Regiment, and other regiments within the 25th Division lineage, alongside cavalry troops and support elements drawn from Special Troops Battalion models. Command relationships place the brigade under the division headquarters at Schofield Barracks, providing rapid deployment capability across the Indo-Pacific region, with doctrinal links to AirLand Battle concepts and modern brigade combat team modularity.

Combat Operations

The brigade’s forebears engaged in amphibious and jungle warfare during World War II in operations connected to the Solomon Islands campaign and the liberation of the Philippines campaign (1944–45). In Vietnam, the brigade fought in operations against the People's Army of Vietnam and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam during major engagements associated with the Tet Offensive and subsequent pacification efforts. In the 2000s the brigade conducted counterinsurgency, stability, and partnered security operations in theaters tied to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, executing missions that included route security, village stability operations, and joint force training with partners such as the Iraqi Army and the Afghan National Army. The brigade has operated in concert with aviation assets from 1st Aviation Brigade‑aligned units and fires from Field Artillery formations during combined arms operations.

Deployments and Campaigns

Major deployments include service in the Pacific War campaigns during World War II, sustained operations in the Vietnam War, and multiple rotations to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom as well as deployments to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. The brigade has participated in multinational exercises with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, the Republic of Korea Army, and Pacific partners under exercises such as RIMPAC and Talisman Sabre, projecting presence consistent with missions from United States Indo-Pacific Command and responding to contingencies in the South China Sea and broader Indo-Pacific region.

Honors and Decorations

Units within the brigade and its antecedents have received campaign streamers and unit awards for actions during World War II, the Vietnam War, and the Global War on Terrorism. Recognitions tied to campaigns include streamers associated with operations in the Solomon Islands, the Philippine Islands, the Counteroffensive, Phase II and later phases in Vietnam, and campaign credits for Iraq and Afghanistan deployments. Decorations awarded to subordinate battalions and companies include citations analogous to the Presidential Unit Citation (United States), Valorous Unit Award, and Meritorious Unit Commendation for distinguished collective performance in combat and support operations.

Notable Commanders and Personnel

Over its history the brigade and its predecessor formations have been led or staffed by officers and senior NCOs who later advanced to higher commands or joint positions, interacting with figures from the broader Army leadership such as commanders previously assigned to the 25th Infantry Division, and cooperating with allied commanders from the Australian Defence Force and Republic of Korea Armed Forces. Notable leaders tied to the division’s brigade elements have gone on to serve in positions within United States Army Pacific and at joint headquarters including United States Central Command and United States Indo-Pacific Command staff billets.

Insignia and Traditions

Insignia associated with the 25th Infantry Division and its brigades include the distinctive unit insignia and shoulder sleeve insignia featuring the division’s iconic lightning bolt motif, symbols reflecting the unit’s ties to the Pacific Islands and its jungle warfare heritage. Traditions maintained at Schofield Barracks encompass ceremonies observed on anniversaries of key engagements, regimental affiliations with historic infantry regiments such as the 27th Infantry Regiment and 14th Infantry Regiment, and unit customs that honor campaign lineage from the World War II Pacific Theater through modern expeditionary operations.

Category:Brigades of the United States Army Category:25th Infantry Division (United States)