40th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is an infantry
brigade
of the United States Army
and the California Army National Guard
. In late 2008, the 40th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was redesignated as the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team without changing its composition.
and 90th Infantry Regiments and served as part of the 20th Infantry Division from October 1918 to February 1919.
During its existence, the shoulder patch used by this unit was that of the 40th Armored Brigade, who was authorized use of the same SSI on 2 February 1970. However, the unit never had official authorization from the Institute of Heraldry to do so. Constituted in July 1917 the brigade was organized and drafted into federal service in August 1917 at Camp Kearny and was demobilized in April 1919 at the same location. June 1926 found the unit being reconstituted in the California National Guard
. The unit headquarters relocated a number of times until it was called into federal service in February 1942. After World War II the unit was inactivated in April 1946, but was called up again in September 1950 due to the Korean War. Having wintered over in Korea in 1951 and 1952 the unit was deactivated in July 1954. Prior to this most recent change, the unit was designated as the 40th Armored Brigade in January 1968. However they were disestablished in January 1974.
On 2 February 2010 the United States Army
Institute of Heraldry approved a new shoulder patch and unit crest
for the 79th IBCT.
units or are tasked for border security missions in southern California. The 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is organized under the Army's new modular brigade structure. The role of the Brigade Combat Team is to act as the Army’s basic tactical maneuver unit and the smallest combined-arms unit that can be committed independently. The Brigade Combat Team
is designed to conduct offensive, defensive, and stability operations. The core mission is to close with the enemy by means of fire and maneuver; to destroy or capture enemy forces; or to repel their attacks by fire, close combat, and counterattack. The Brigade Combat Team can fight without augmentation, but it also can be tailored to meet the precise needs of its missions.
The 79th IBCT also has a state mission. In times of emergency, the governor
may call the National Guard to assist civil authorities. The self-contained and modular structure of the 79th IBCT make it well suited to provide this support.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
of the United States Army
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...
and the California Army National Guard
California Army National Guard
The California Army National Guard is the land force component of the California National Guard, one of the reserve component United States Army and is part of the United States National Guard. The California Army National Guard is composed of about 20,000 soldiers...
. In late 2008, the 40th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was redesignated as the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team without changing its composition.
Order of battle
- 1st Battalion 184th Infantry Regiment184th Infantry RegimentThe 184th Infantry Regiment is a combat regiment of the United States Army consisting of soldiers from the California Army National Guard. Only the regiment's first battalion remains an active military unit. The battalion supports state and federal missions in the State of California, United...
- 1st Battalion 160th Infantry Regiment160th Infantry Regiment (United States)The 160th Infantry Regiment is a light infantry regiment of the United States Army. The first Battalion, 160th Infantry, is a component of the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team .-History:...
- 1st Squadron 18th Cavalry Regiment1st Squadron, 18th Cavalry RegimentThe 18th Cavalry Regiment is the reconnaissance element of the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the California Army National Guard. Prior to the most recent reorganization of the United States Army National Guard the unit was an Aviation unit equipped with AH-1F Cobras under the 40th Infantry...
- 1st Battalion 143rd Field Artillery Regiment143rd Field Artillery RegimentThe 143rd Field Artillery Regiment is a combat arms regiment of the United States Army made up of soldiers from the California Army National Guard. Only the regiment's first battalion, an M119A2-equipped fires battalion, is still active...
- 79th Special Troops Battalion
- 79th Brigade Support Battalion
Unit History
Elements of the Brigade can trace back their lineage to October 1881 when the San Diego City Guard was established. The 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was originally made up of the 50th50th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 50th Infantry Regiment is a United States Army infantry regiment.-Lineage:*Constituted 15 May 1917 in the Regular Army as the 50th Infantry.*Organized 1 June 1917 at Syracuse, New York.*Assigned 31 July 1918 to the 20th Division....
and 90th Infantry Regiments and served as part of the 20th Infantry Division from October 1918 to February 1919.
During its existence, the shoulder patch used by this unit was that of the 40th Armored Brigade, who was authorized use of the same SSI on 2 February 1970. However, the unit never had official authorization from the Institute of Heraldry to do so. Constituted in July 1917 the brigade was organized and drafted into federal service in August 1917 at Camp Kearny and was demobilized in April 1919 at the same location. June 1926 found the unit being reconstituted in the California National Guard
California National Guard
The California National Guard is the component of the United States National Guard in the U.S. state of California. It comprises both Army and Air National Guard components and is the largest national guard force in the United States with a total authorized strength of 22,900 soldiers and airmen...
. The unit headquarters relocated a number of times until it was called into federal service in February 1942. After World War II the unit was inactivated in April 1946, but was called up again in September 1950 due to the Korean War. Having wintered over in Korea in 1951 and 1952 the unit was deactivated in July 1954. Prior to this most recent change, the unit was designated as the 40th Armored Brigade in January 1968. However they were disestablished in January 1974.
On 2 February 2010 the United States Army
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...
Institute of Heraldry approved a new shoulder patch and unit crest
Distinctive unit insignia
A Distinctive Unit Insignia is a metal heraldic device worn by soldiers in the United States Army. The DUI design is derived from the coat of arms authorized for a unit...
for the 79th IBCT.
Current status
The 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was re-designated from the 40th IBCT in September 2008. The IBCT was originally activated in 2007 as part of the reorganization of the California National Guard, which in turn was part of the restructuring of the total US Army. The Army is restructuring and moving from the Division to the Brigade as the primary building block of Combat Power. To this effect the 2nd and 3rd Brigades of the 40th Infantry Division of the California Army National Guard were merged into the 79th IBCT. As of February 2007, most of the brigade was stateside. However, individual soldiers were in Iraq working in other active dutyActive duty
Active duty refers to a full-time occupation as part of a military force, as opposed to reserve duty.-Pakistan:The Pakistan Armed Forces are one of the largest active service forces in the world with almost 610,000 full time personnel due to the complex and volatile nature of Pakistan's...
units or are tasked for border security missions in southern California. The 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is organized under the Army's new modular brigade structure. The role of the Brigade Combat Team is to act as the Army’s basic tactical maneuver unit and the smallest combined-arms unit that can be committed independently. The Brigade Combat Team
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...
is designed to conduct offensive, defensive, and stability operations. The core mission is to close with the enemy by means of fire and maneuver; to destroy or capture enemy forces; or to repel their attacks by fire, close combat, and counterattack. The Brigade Combat Team can fight without augmentation, but it also can be tailored to meet the precise needs of its missions.
The 79th IBCT also has a state mission. In times of emergency, the governor
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
may call the National Guard to assist civil authorities. The self-contained and modular structure of the 79th IBCT make it well suited to provide this support.
External links
- Brigades old DUI
- California Army National Guard, unit webpage
- California National Guard website
- Camp Kearny (San Diego County)
- US Army Field Manual 3–90.6 4AUG06, "The Brigade Combat Team"