The 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment (278th ACR, "Third Tennessee"

Missions

thumb|Members of the regiment during a parade in Kyiv, August 2018.

  • State mission

::Provide trained and disciplined troops for domestic emergencies or as otherwise required by state law.

  • Federal mission

::Maintain properly trained and equipped units available for prompt mobilization for war, national emergency, or as otherwise needed.

History

Formation of predecessor units

The Third Brigade of the Tennessee Militia was absorbed into the National Guard of the United States on 25 March 1887 as the 3rd Infantry Regiment, with headquarters in Knoxville. The 1st Battalion was located in Knoxville, and the 2nd Battalion was located in Chattanooga. In the spring of 1898, the battalions were consolidated to form the 6th Infantry Regiment. Between 18 and 20 May 1898, the 6th Infantry was re-designated as the 3rd Tennessee Volunteer Infantry Regiment..

World War II

On 16 September 1940, the 117th Infantry Regiment was inducted into federal service at home stations for a period of one year. The regiment was moved by train and arrived at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, on 24 September 1940. The regiment was housed in pyramidal tents at Fort Jackson. Colonel Grant A. Schlieker assumed command of the regiment on 12 August 1940. In October 1940, the unit was brought to war strength with Selective Service men, primarily from the Knoxville area.

On 29 April 1977, the 278th (Separate) Infantry Brigade was reorganized and re-designated the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, a separate corps maneuver Unit. Colonel Russell A. Newman was appointed as its first commander. The regimental motto, "I Volunteer Sir", was inspired by the volunteer units of east Tennessee in the Mexican–American War. The regiment's headquarters and headquarters troop (HHT) was redesignated on 1 May from the headquarters and headquarters company (HHC) of the 278th Brigade. The 1st and 2nd Squadrons were redesignated from existing units on the same day. The 2nd Battalion, 117th's HHC was redesignated as the HHT of the 278th ACR's 1st Squadron at Athens. 1st Squadron was mostly redesignated from the 2nd Battalion. The 1st Squadron's Troop A was redesignated from Company B at Cleveland, Troop B from the Support Company at Sweetwater, Detachment 1 of Troop B from Company C at Lenoir City, Troop C from the 376th Signal Company at Newport, Company D from Detachment 1 of the 130th Military Police Company at Oak Ridge, and the Howitzer Battery from Company A at Maryville.

The headquarters and headquarters detachment of the 330th Transportation Battalion at Kingsport was redesignated as the HHT of the 2nd Squadron. Troop E was redesignated from the 1130th Transportation Company at Morristown, Troop F from the 1174th Transportation Company at Bristol, Troop G from Detachment 1 of the 376th Signal Company at Greeneville, Company H from the 130th Military Police Company at Clinton, and the Howitzer Battery from Detachment 1 of the 117th's 2nd Battalion at Knoxville. On 30 September 1978, the 777th Maintenance Company (GS), a separate unit stationed in Knoxville at the Knoxville Armory, was reorganized and redesignated as the Air Troop of the 278th. The unit was later relocated to Alcoa. A year later, the 450th Assault Helicopter Company, stationed in Smyrna, was reorganized and redesignated as the Attack Helicopter Troop of the regiment. The headquarters and headquarters detachment of the 130th Aviation Battalion and the 1155th Transportation Company (Aviation Intermediate Maintenance) were attached to the 278th by the State Area Command to serve as command and control for the separate air troop and attack helicopter troop.

right|thumb|278th soldiers at memorial service for comrades killed in Iraq.

The 278th RCT took over from the 30th BCT, North Carolina, commanded by BG Danny Hickman on Christmas Eve 2004 at FOB Caldwell where the regimental headquarters was established. Initially the 278th RCT fell under Task Force Danger and the 1st Infantry Division. In February 2005 the 278th became part of Task Force Liberty commanded by the 42nd Infantry Division. The 1/278th and the 386th Engineer Battalion were located at FOB Caldwell along with the regimental HQ. The regiment operated along the Iranian border in the Diyala Province and in the center of an ethnic triangle formed by Arabs, Kurds and Turkomen in the Salah Ah Din Province. Each squadron was assigned to a FOB (forward operating base) and detachments sent to other locations, with some performing convoy escort missions from Kuwait to Mosul. The 101st Airborne Division (AASLT) replaced the 278th RCT upon the 278th's redeployment to the United States.

FOB assignments:

FOB Caldwell (Balad Ruz- Kirkush Military Training Base): RHHT, Regimental Reconnaissance Troop (RRT), SPT/278th ACR,1/278th ACR and attachments.

FOB Cobra (Jalula, Iraq): 3/278th ACR and attachments, B Co 1/128 Infantry and soldiers from C Co 386th Engineer Battalion.

FOB Bernstein (Tuz Khurmatu, Iraq): 2/278th ACR and attachments. During their deployment to FOB Bernstein and AO Peacemaker in 2004–05 members of the medical platoon, 2/278th ACR were awarded six Army Commendation Medals with Device for Valor, one Bronze Star with Device for Valor and two Purple Hearts for actions they were involved in.

FOB McKenzie (Samara East Airbase):3rd Platoon, Lightning Troop 3/278th. Attachments from Pasadena, TX and Wisconsin infantry.

FOB O'Ryan (Near Ad Dujayl, Iraq): D Co 1/278th ACR (attached to 1–128 Infantry Battalion, 32nd Infantry Brigade, Wisconsin

ARNG) which was assigned to the 1st Brigade (Raiders), 3rd Infantry Division.

International Zone (Baghdad Iraq): Troop F 2/278th ACR. Attached to 1st Cavalry (3–8 Cavalry) and later under 3rd Infantry Division (4–64 Tuskers) Under the name Task-force Baghdad.

The FOBs included: Black hawk, Prosperity, Union (Trojan Horse). This troop was responsible for security mission that included a mission with the CIA to guard the interim prime minister's house. Other missions included patrolling, providing listening and observation posts (LP/OPs) during elections and for force protection of the International Zone. This unit conducted checkpoints, convoy operations and provided security for the Naval Special Warfare EOD teams as well as Australian bomb squads.

Eight 278th ACR soldiers were killed in action in Iraq in 2005. Two more died of accidents or natural causes.

Operation Iraqi Freedom 9-11

The 278th deployed again to Iraq in 2010 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 9-11.

The 278th mobilized out of JFTC Shelby (Camp Shelby) beginning in December 2009 with attachments from Michigan, Wisconsin, Tennessee, and West Virginia National Guard units. The 278th acted as the convoy security element for the 13th ESC, and was tasked with the protection of retrograde activities and FOB closures from the Turkish border to Kuwait.

FOB Assignments:

Camp Taji: RHHT/278 ACR, SPT/278 ACR, RTS/278 ACR

COB Speicher: 3/278 ACR

Joint Base Balad: 2/278 ACR

FOB Q-West: 1/278 ACR

FOB Marez/Diamond Back: RFS/278 ACR

FOB Prosperity:

Spc. Robert D. West received a Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge for injuries sustained on 31 May 2010 while assigned to 2nd Platoon RFS/278 ACR on a return mission to Marez/Diamond. After passing through an Iraqi Army checkpoint his vehicle was hit with two IEDs, injuring West. West climbed back into the turret and manned the .50BMG until he and the vehicle's crew were moved to surrounding vehicles. After undergoing medical treatment West returned to his unit and remained in theatre until his unit redeployed to the United States in August 2010 with no fatalities.

Organization

  • 27px 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in Knoxville
  • Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in Knoxville
  • 25px 1st Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in Henderson