1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment

The 1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment is a Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition squadron of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (48th IBCT), Georgia Army National Guard. 1st Squadron provides the 48th IBCT both mounted and dismounted reconnaissance capabilities. Prior to 2007, the unit was designated as the 1st Battalion, 108th Armor Regiment.

1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment
108th Cavalry Regiment Distinctive unit insignia
Active1959 - Present
Country United States
Allegiance Georgia
Branch Army National Guard
TypeCavalry
RoleReconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA)
SizeSquadron
Part of48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Garrison/HQCalhoun, Georgia
Nickname(s)Roughriders
PatronSaint George
Motto(s)Come What Will
ColorsYellow
EngagementsWorld War II, Iraq Campaign, Afghanistan Campaign
DecorationsMeritorious Unit Commendation, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (HHT, 1-108th Cavalry)
Commanders
Current
commander		LTC Christopher Powell
Command Sergeant MajorCSM John Ballenger

History
A trooper from the 1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry receives his golden spurs as part of the 'Roughriders' New Year's celebration event at FOB Torkham, Afghanistan. Golden spurs are awarded to Cavalry Troopers for service with a Cavalry unit in a combat zone.

Desert Storm & Bosnia and Herzegovina

The 1st Battalion, 108th Armor mobilized for Desert Storm, but were not deployed in time to be able to participate in the war. After certifying at the National Training Center as combat-ready, they demobilized.

The 1st Battalion, 108th Armor deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina for Stabilization Force (SFOR) Rotation 9 to provide support operations for Task Force Eagle (United States contingent to United Nations Operations in support of Dayton Peace Accord). The SFOR9 rotation was scheduled from April to October 2001.

War on Terrorism

The 1st Battalion, 108th Armor mobilized as a component of the 48th Brigade Combat Team in 2004 for combat operations in support of the Global War on Terrorism. It was augmented with an additional Infantry company from Alabama and organized as Task Force (TF) Roughrider. In May 2005 the unit began deploying to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and experienced some of the fiercest combat actions in the campaign. During the first half of the brigade's deployment (Spring 2005 through Spring 2006) to Iraq, the 1-108th spent much of its time conducting cordon and search operations, reconnaissance missions, and raids in Iraq's Triangle of Death region southwest of Baghdad. The unit's focus shifted during the second half of the deployment to a theater security mission primarily consisting of convoy escort and civilian military operations. On 20 April 2006, at Ft. Stewart, members of the 1-108th returned home after a year of combat operations in Iraq.

TF Roughrider suffered seven fatalities while deployed to Iraq:

  • SGT Paul A. Saylor (15 August 2005)[1]
  • SPC Joshua P. Dingler (15 August 2005)[2]
  • SGT Thomas J. Strickland (15 August 2005)[3]
  • SGT Michael J. Stokely (16 August 2005)[4]
  • SSG George R. Draughn, Jr. (1 September 2005)[5]
  • SFC Robert Hollar, Jr. (1 September 2005)[6]
  • 1SG Aaron D. Jagger (9 August 2006)[7][8][9]

As a part of the United States Army's ongoing transformation to a lighter, more modular force the 1st Battalion, 108th Armor was re-designated as the 1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry (RSTA) in 2007. The unit traded in its M1 Abrams tanks and its M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles for up-armored HMMWVs. Most of the squadron's tank crewmen have reclassified to 19D cavalry scouts or 11B infantrymen.[10]

In December 2007, the Georgia National Guard's 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) was alerted that it will be deployed to Afghanistan in the summer of 2009 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).[11] In January 2009, the 1-108th began training for the expected year-long deployment.[12] The unit was subsequently deployed to Afghanistan in April as Task Force Roughrider.

While deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the 1-108th participated in training the Afghan Security Forces while conducting Counter Insurgency Operations throughout the country. In March 2010 the unit redeployed from Afghanistan and demobilized at Fort Stewart, GA. TF Roughrider suffered six fatalities while deployed to Afghanistan:

  • MAJ Kevin M. Jenrette (4 June 2009)[13]
  • SGT Jeffrey W. Jordan (4 June 2009)[14]
  • SFC John C. Beale (4 June 2009)[15]
  • 1SG John D. Blair (20 June 2009)[16]
  • SGT Isaac L. Johnson, Jr. (6 July 2009)[17]
  • SGT Raymundo P. Morales (21 July 2009)[18]

[19][20]

Leadership & Organization
Commander Years Command Sergeant Major Years
LTC Horace Cleary
LTC Forrest McKelvey
LTC James P. Stephens
MAJ Atkinson 1973 - 1974
LTC Harold W. Carlisle 1974 - 1977
LTC William V. Wigley 1977 - 1980
LTC William A. Holland 1980 - 1984 CSM John T. Woods
LTC Tommy Lewis 1984 - 1986 CSM Carl Shugart
LTC William T. Thielemann 1986 - 1988 CSM John T. Woods
LTC William D. Evans 1988 - 1990 CSM Roy Anderson
LTC Allen D. O'Rouke 1990 - 1993 CSM Bernard Kenemer
LTC C. Stewart Rodeheaver 1993 - 1996 CSM Billy Duncan
LTC Donald W. Venn 1996 - 1998 CSM Marvin Thomas 1995 - 2001
LTC Kenneth C. Roberts 1998 - 2002 SGM Jack L. McGill 2001 - 2001
CSM Marvin Thomas 2001 - 2002
LTC John F. King 2002 - 2006 CSM David A. Knowles 2002 - 2005
CSM Grady A. Gayton 2005 - 2006
LTC Christopher Voso 2006 - 2007 CSM Joe M. Shubert 2006 - 2008
LTC Randall V. Simmons, Jr. 2007 - 2010 CSM Joseph E. Recker Jr. 2008 - 2010
LTC Matthew Saxton 2010 - 2012 CSM John Scott Rainwater 2010 - 2013
LTC Christopher Kemper 2012- 2013 CSM Ronnie Perryman 2013 - 2013
LTC Brian W. Lassetter 2013- 2014 CSM Larry Ray Robinson 2013 - 2013
LTC Jason S. Baker 2014 - 2016 CSM Flint E. Weathers 2014–2017
LTC Scott Jackels 2016–2019 CSM Jason D. York 2017–2019
LTC Christopher Powell 2019-Present CSM John Ballenger 2019-Present

Organization
  • Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, located in Calhoun, Georgia
  • Apache Troop (Cavalry), located in Cedartown, Georgia
  • Blackfoot Troop (Cavalry), located in Canton, Georgia
  • Cobra Troop (Infantry), located in Dalton, Georgia
  • Dragon Company (Forward Support), 148th Brigade Support Battalion, located in Calhoun, Georgia (attached)

Lineage

Constituted 19 June 1959 in the Georgia Army National Guard as the 108th Armor, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System

Organized 1 July 1959 from the following units to consist of the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron and the 2d, 3d, and 4th Medium Tank Battalions, elements of the 48th Armored Division:

48th Reconnaissance Battalion (organized in 1902 at Jackson) as the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron 163d Tank Battalion (organized in 1924 at Calhoun) as the 2d Medium Tank Battalion 162d Tank Battalion (organized in 1882 at Macon) as the 3d Medium Tank Battalion 190th Tank Battalion (organized in 1889 at Macon) as the 4th Medium Tank Battalion

Reorganized 1 May 1962 to consist of the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron and the 2d, 3d, and 4th Medium Tank Battalions, elements of the 48th Armored Division, and the 5th Medium Tank Battalion

Reorganized 16 April 1963 to consist of the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, and 5th Battalions, elements of the 48th Armored Division

Reorganized 1 January 1968 to consist of the 1st Battalion, an element of the 30th Infantry Division

Reorganized 1 December 1973 to consist of the 1st Battalion, an element of the 48th Infantry Brigade

Withdrawn 1 June 1989 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System with headquarters at Calhoun

Ordered into active federal service 30 November 1990 at home stations; released from active federal service 27 March 1991 and reverted to state control

Ordered into active federal service 6 December 2004 – 3 January 2005 at home stations; released from active federal service 1 September – 1 October 2006 and reverted to state control

Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 108th Armored Regiment

Consolidated 1 September 2007 with the 108th Cavalry Regiment (see ANNEX) and consolidated unit designated as the 108th Cavalry Regiment, to consist of the 1st Squadron, an element of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the 2d Squadron, an element of the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

Reorganized 1 September 2008 in the Georgia and Louisiana Army National Guard to consist of the 1st Squadron, an element of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the 2d Squadron, an element of the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and the 3d Squadron

ANNEX

Constituted 2 September 1995 in the Georgia and Louisiana Army National Guard as the 108th Cavalry, a parent regiment under the United States Army Regimental System; concurrently organized from existing elements to consist of Troop A, an element of the 256th Infantry Brigade, and Troop E, an element of the 48th Infantry Brigade

(Troop E ordered into active federal service 6 December 2004 – 3 January 2005 at Griffin, Georgia)

Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 108th Cavalry Regiment

Reorganized 1 September 2006 to consist of the 2d Squadron, an element of the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and Troop E, an element of the 48th Infantry Brigade

(Troop E released from active federal service 1 September – 1 October 2006 and reverted to state control)

Honors

Campaign Participation Credit

The squadron has received participation credit for the following campaigns:[21]

War on Terrorism

Campaigns to be determined
World War II
Guadalcanal
New Guinea
Leyte
Luzon

Awards & Decorations
Ribbon Award Year Notes
Meritorious Unit Commendation 2009–2010 [22]
Presidential Unit Citation (Philippines) 1944-1945 Headquarters Company, streamer embroidered 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945[21]

See also

References
  1. "SGT Paul A. Saylor". Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  2. "SPC Joshua P. Dingler". Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  3. "SGT Thomas J. Strickland". Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  4. "SGT Michael J. Stokely". Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  5. "SSG George R. Draughn". Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  6. "SFC Robert Hollar, Jr". Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  7. "1SG Aaron D. Jagger". Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  8. Iraq and Afghanistan War Casualties
  9. "Army National Guard 2007 Posture Statement". Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  10. 48th IBCT soldiers transform from heavy armor to light infantry at annual training Archived 13 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  11. Five Guard brigades notified of 2009 deployments
  12. Willis, John M. (1 February 2009). "A local unit trains at Fort McClellan before Afghanista [sic]". Rome News-Tribune. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  13. "MAJ Kevin M. Jenrette". Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  14. "SGT Jeffrey W. Jordan". Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  15. "SFC John C. Beale". Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  16. "1SG John D. Blair". Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  17. "Isaac L. Johnson, Jr". Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  18. "SGT Raymundo P. Morales". Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  19. "1st Squadron 108th Cavalry Fallen Heroes". Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  20. Iraq and Afghanistan War Casualties
  21. "108th Cavalry Regiment Lineage and Honors". United States Army Center of Military History. 13 November 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  22. Department of the Army Permanent Orders 060-08, 1 March 2010
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