Fort Benning
U.S. Army Fort Benning and The Maneuver Center of Excellence
3rd Squadron, 16th US Cavalry Regiment Site
3rd Squadron, 16th US Cavalry Regiment
History
The 3d Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment was constituted on 1 July 1916 in the Regular Army as Troop C, 16th Cavalry and organized on 14 July 1916 at Ft Sam Houston, Texas. The unit was later inactivated on 12 November 1921 at Ft Sam Houston, Texas.
The unit was re-designated on 15 June 1942 as Troop C, 16th Cavalry Mechanized and activated at Camp Forrest, Tennessee. The unit was re-organized and re-designated on 22 December 1943 as Troop C, 19th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron Mechanized. The unit was inactivated on 10 November 1945 at Camp Campbell, Kentucky and absorbed on 1 August 1946 by Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 19th Cavalry Group Mechanized. The unit was later re-designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 19th Cavalry Group on 1 August 1946 at Ft Riley, Kansas. The unit was re-designated on 2 January 1953 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 19th Cavalry Group in Germany and subsequently re-designated on 1 October 1953 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 19th Armored Cavalry Group. The unit was later inactivated on 1 July 1955 in Germany and consolidated on 2 July 1955 with Headquarters and Headquarters Company,16th Armor Group. The former Troop C, 19th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron Mechanized was reconstituted on 1 March 1957 in the Regular Army as Troop C, 16th Cavalry. The unit campaign participation in World War II includes "Rhineland" and "Central Europe."
In 1963, the 16th Cavalry was re-designated as the 16th Armor. D Company, 16th Armor was the only active duty unit of the 16th Armor. The company served as one of the subordinate units of the 173rd Separate Airborne Brigade during hostilities in Vietnam from 1963-69. D/l6th Armor provided the anti-tank protection for the 173rd BDE. This was the only airborne tank unit at the time as well as the only separate Tank Company in the history of the army. The company was equipped with "Scorpions" which were air droppable Armored Personnel Carriers that were equipped with high velocity 90mm guns. From 1963 through 1969 DI1 6th Armor served in every campaign which the 173rd Airborne BDE fought in. During its service in Vietnam D/l6th Armor is credited with 16 Vietnam Campaign streamers as well as earning the Meritorious Commendation Medal for its valorous service. In 1969, 16th Armor reverted to the designation of the16th Cavalry and was inactivated. Reactivated in Vietnam on 20 March 1970, using the assets of D Troop (Air), 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry (1st Infantry Division), the 16th Cavalry operated as a separate air cavalry troop of the 1st Aviation Brigade. Departing Vietnam on 26 February 1973, the unit was again inactivated. The unit campaign participation in Vietnam includes the "Winter-Spring 1970," "Sanctuary Counteroffensive," "Counter-Offensive Phase VII," "Consolidation I," "Consolidation II," and "Cease-Fire." The unit decorations include the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm.
On 25 March, 1987, the 16th Cavalry was withdrawn from the Combat Arms Regimental System, reorganized under the U.S. Army Regimental System and transferred to the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine command as a parent Brigade for training units at Ft. Knox where the 3rd Squadron was posted. In April 1993, the Regiment was reactivated as the Training and Training Support unit for all leader training conducted at the U.S. Army Armor School, Ft. Knox. 3rd Squadron taught the Armor Captains Career Course, The Cavalry Leaders Course, and the Master Gunner School. The unit received an Army Superior Unit award in 2000.
In 2010 the SQDN moved from Fort Knox to Fort Benning and transferred responsibility for the Armor Captains Career Course to 3-81AR creating the Maneuver Career Course. The unit received a second Army Superior Unit award in 2011 for the movement to Fort Benning. The unit assumed responsibility for all International students training on Fort Benning and all Reconnaissance training. As part of the Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCOE) reorganization in 2014, the squadron was organized into three Troops and one Airborne Company. Assault Company (IN IET Support) was transferred from 2-29 IN which cased its colors in April 2014. N Troop remained with the squadron and in addition to ARC and CLC assumed control of the SUAS-MT and DCT-MT Courses. Able Company (AR/CAV/BCT IET Support) was attached from 3-81 AR. Delta Company was attached from the Ranger Training Brigade and in addition to RSLC assumed responsibility for ASA A&B. On 1 October 2014, these units were permanently task organized to the 3rd Squadron and renamed A Troop, B Troop, C Troop, and D Company respectively.
On May 18, 2017 A and C Troops were inactivated and the IET support committees were transferred to the 198th and 194th Brigades. On October 5th, 2017, B Troop and D Co. were inactivated as part of the MCOE ”University Model” test. H Troop was re-activated with Vietnam era lineage to support the SQDN. The Reconnaissance and Security (R&S) Courses were re-aligned under a new Department of R&S while the Department of Security Force Assistance was activated to train Combat advisors for the Security Force Assistance Brigades. On May 4th, 2018 the Department of Subterranean (SbT) Operations was activated. In January of 2019, the Squadron assumed the Maneuver Leaders Maintenance Course (MLMC) under Hawk Troop. On March 12,2019, the Squadron re-activated M, N, and P Troops as part of a large MCOE re-organization to re-align the Armor and Infantry Schools. RSLC was returned to ARTB as D Co., the SUASMT course, and the SbT program were transferred to 1-29IN in the 199th BDE. The Master Gunner School returned to 3rd SQDN along with the New Equipment Training Team. Today the Squadron continues to forge functional skills in excellent leaders to enhance Army readiness in reconnaissance, security, and lethality.