3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division
Darz Mol · Public domain · source
Unit name	3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Air Assault
Size	Brigade
Command structure	101st Airborne Division
Garrison	Fort Campbell

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division is a brigade-sized formation aligned under the 101st Airborne Division (United States). The brigade has operated as an air assault formation and has participated in multiple overseas deployments, integrating infantry, aviation, reconnaissance, artillery, and sustainment elements. Its missions have included combat operations, stability tasks, and training partnerships with allied forces.

History

The unit traces lineage through subordinate regiments and battalions formerly associated with World War II and Vietnam War era formations, inheriting traditions from units that fought in the Normandy landings, Operation Market Garden, and Battle of the Bulge. During the post‑Cold War era, the brigade adapted in response to operations such as Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2021), and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Organizational changes followed the modularity initiative and the Army Force Generation (ARFORGEN) model, aligning the brigade with the Stryker Brigade Combat Team and later reconstituting air assault capabilities. The brigade’s operational tempo increased after the September 11 attacks, deploying elements to Iraq, Afghanistan, and participating in multinational exercises with NATO, Coalition partners, and partner armies in Europe and Africa.

Organization and Structure

The brigade typically comprised a headquarters element, multiple combined-arms battalions drawn from the Ranger Regiment-affiliated infantry battalions and other line infantry regiments, a cavalry reconnaissance squadron, a field artillery battalion, a brigade engineer battalion, and a brigade support battalion. Subordinate units have included battalions from the 506th Infantry Regiment, 187th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, cavalry squadrons with lineage to Reconnaissance elements, and artillery units tracing heritage to the 101st Field Artillery Battalion. The brigade integrates rotary-wing units operating UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters under aviation brigade coordination during air assault operations, while sustainment is provided by transportation and logistic companies modeled on Sustainment Brigade (United States Army) structures. Command relationships have shifted between the FORSCOM and joint task forces during deployments, and the brigade has embedded military police, civil affairs, and signals elements for comprehensive mission sets.

Combat Deployments and Operations

Elements of the brigade have conducted counterinsurgency and conventional operations in theaters including Iraq War, War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), and expeditionary missions tied to Operation Inherent Resolve and stability operations in Balkans contingencies. Missions encompassed air assault raids, cordon and search operations, route security, joint partnered patrols with host nation forces such as the Iraqi Army and the Afghan National Army, as well as force protection for forward operating bases aligned with International Security Assistance Force. The brigade executed battalion-level assaults supported by close air support from United States Air Force assets, artillery fire coordination with M777 howitzer batteries, and joint logistics over-the-shore operations with United States Navy amphibious and sealift units when required. The unit’s deployments frequently coordinated with Special Operations Command taskings, Provincial Reconstruction Team efforts, and multinational coalition partners from United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Poland.

Equipment and Capabilities

As an air assault brigade, its organic equipment emphasizes man-portable systems, rotary-wing integration, and light armored mobility. Standard platforms have included M4 carbine rifles, crew-served weapons such as the M240 machine gun and MK19 grenade launcher, sniper systems like the M107 rifle, and anti-armor systems including the Javelin (missile). Indirect fires have been delivered by M119 howitzer and M777 howitzer batteries, with fire control supported by AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder radar and tactical forward observers. Aviation assets for assault and logistics included UH-60 Black Hawk, CH-47 Chinook, and AH-64 Apache attack helicopters coordinated through air mission planning with Air Mobility Command. Communications, command and control employ systems such as the AN/PRC-119 radio, Blue Force Tracker, and networked mission command systems aligned with Unified Battle Command concepts. Engineering and route clearance capability incorporated M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle-style assets and explosive ordnance disposal teams using robotic systems.

Training and Doctrine

Training cycles adhered to doctrines found in Field Manual publications and Air Assault School certification, with rotations through combat training centers including the National Training Center (Fort Irwin), Joint Readiness Training Center, and multinational exercises such as Operation Atlantic Resolve. Pre-deployment readiness followed Mission Command principles, combined arms live-fire ranges, urban operations training at purpose-built facilities, and partner-nation mentorship programs under the Security Force Assistance framework. Leadership development drew on United States Army War College and Combined Arms Center curricula, while troop-level sustainment training included Army Noncommissioned Officer Education System courses and convoy live-fire and counter-IED training aligned with IED defeat tactics.

Honors and Unit Lineage

The brigade and its antecedent units have earned campaign participation credits and unit decorations for actions in Normandy, Rhineland, Ardennes, Vietnam, Southwest Asia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Lineage links connect to storied regiments recognized by decorations such as the Presidential Unit Citation, French Croix de Guerre, and other theater-specific commendations. The unit’s heraldry and colors reflect its ties to the 101st Airborne Division (United States), and its battalions preserve distinct regimental histories, battle streamers, and honors displayed during ceremonies at Fort Campbell and divisional events.

Category:Brigades of the United States Army Category:Air assault units of the United States Army