75th Cavalry Regiment (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 75th Cavalry Regiment is a United States Army
cavalry regiment. Currently, only 1st Squadron (1-75 CAV), assigned to the 101st Airborne Division
, is active.
(RSTA), was formed under the U.S. Army's transformation in September 2004. The squadron was formed under 2BCT
, 101st Airborne Division
(AASLT) in place of 3-502nd Infantry. The first commander of the squadron was LTC Alfonso J. Ahuja with CSM Scott C. Schroeder. The lineage of the Squadron dates back to World War II, as the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion
which was attached to the 502nd Infantry Regiment. The motto of 1-75 CAV (Widowmakers) is STRIKE CAV!
in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in autumn of 2005. The squadron remained with 2BCT, 101st Airborne Division based out of Camp Striker
. The squadron, along with the rest of 2BCT, patrolled Southwest Baghdad
in an area known as the "triangle of death". 1-75 CAV is noted for locating and destroying multiple weapons caches as well as detaining several ranking members of Al-Qaeda
in Iraq. In January 2006 the Squadron was moved to protect a deadly Main Supply Route
(MSR) leading into Baghdad.
While controlling this supply route, the squadron successfully decreased improvised explosive device
and small arms
attacks by over 80%, thus enabling safe transport of supplies and materials into central and northern Iraq. During the time spent on MSR security, the squadron suffered two casualties.
1-75 Cavalry returned to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in October 2007. 1-75 Cavalry returned from Iraq in late November 2008.
1-75 Cavalry deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in June 2010.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
cavalry regiment. Currently, only 1st Squadron (1-75 CAV), assigned to the 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division (United States)
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
, is active.
Training and Activation
1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry (Widowmakers), a Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition SquadronISTAR
ISTAR stands for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance. In its macroscopic sense, ISTAR is a practice that links several battlefield functions together to assist a combat force in employing its sensors and managing the information they gather.Information is collected on...
(RSTA), was formed under the U.S. Army's transformation in September 2004. The squadron was formed under 2BCT
Brigade combat team
The brigade combat team is the basic deployable unit of maneuver in the US Army. A brigade combat team consists of one combat arms branch maneuver brigade, and its attached support and fire units. A brigade combat team is generally commanded by a colonel , but in rare instances it is commanded by...
, 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division (United States)
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
(AASLT) in place of 3-502nd Infantry. The first commander of the squadron was LTC Alfonso J. Ahuja with CSM Scott C. Schroeder. The lineage of the Squadron dates back to World War II, as the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion
705th Tank Destroyer Battalion
The 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion was a tank destroyer battalion of the United States Army active during the Second World War. It was originally formed from artillery elements of the 5th Armored Division, and its lineage is today perpetuated by the 75th Cavalry Regiment.The battalion operated in...
which was attached to the 502nd Infantry Regiment. The motto of 1-75 CAV (Widowmakers) is STRIKE CAV!
Deployment
The 1-75 Cavalry deployed to IraqIraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in autumn of 2005. The squadron remained with 2BCT, 101st Airborne Division based out of Camp Striker
Camp Striker
Camp Striker is one of several logistical and life support bases on Victory Base Complex, Iraq .Amenities on Camp Striker include a Burger King, Pizza Hut and Green Beans Coffee cafe, as well as an AAFES PX and several third-party markets. The Dining Facility is purported to be the second largest...
. The squadron, along with the rest of 2BCT, patrolled Southwest Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
in an area known as the "triangle of death". 1-75 CAV is noted for locating and destroying multiple weapons caches as well as detaining several ranking members of Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
in Iraq. In January 2006 the Squadron was moved to protect a deadly Main Supply Route
Main Supply Route
A Main Supply Route is the route or routes designated within an area of operations upon which the bulk of traffic flows in support of military operations....
(MSR) leading into Baghdad.
While controlling this supply route, the squadron successfully decreased improvised explosive device
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
and small arms
Small arms
Small arms is a term of art used by armed forces to denote infantry weapons an individual soldier may carry. The description is usually limited to revolvers, pistols, submachine guns, carbines, assault rifles, battle rifles, multiple barrel firearms, sniper rifles, squad automatic weapons, light...
attacks by over 80%, thus enabling safe transport of supplies and materials into central and northern Iraq. During the time spent on MSR security, the squadron suffered two casualties.
1-75 Cavalry returned to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in October 2007. 1-75 Cavalry returned from Iraq in late November 2008.
1-75 Cavalry deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in June 2010.
Current status
- 1st Squadron is the Cavalry Squadron of the 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division101st Airborne DivisionThe 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
stationed at Fort CampbellFort CampbellFort Campbell is a United States Army installation located astraddle the Kentucky-Tennessee border between Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Tennessee...
, KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
.
See also
- United States Army branch insigniaUnited States Army branch insigniaBranch insignia of the United States Army refers to military emblems that may be worn on the uniform of the United States Army to denote membership in a particular area of expertise and series of functional areas...
- Coats of arms of U.S. Armor and Cavalry RegimentsCoats of arms of U.S. Armor and Cavalry RegimentsThis page has been split as follows:* Coats of arms of U.S. Armor Regiments* Coats of arms of U.S. Cavalry Regiments-See also:* commons:Field Army insignia of the United States Army* Corps insignia of the United States Army...
- Field Artillery Branch (United States)