53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team is a modular infantry
brigade
of the Florida Army National Guard
.
The distinctive unit insignia
was originally approved for the Noncolor Bearing Units of the 53d Armored Brigade on 9 January 1967. It was redesignated for the 53d Infantry Brigade on 25 July 1968.
The brigade participated in hurricane relief operations in 1992 in response to Hurricane Andrew
whereby the brigade was deployed for nearly two months to Miami.
The Florida Army National Guard 53rd Infantry Brigade was the first of 15 Army National Guard enhanced readiness brigades to rotate through the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk
, Louisiana
, 10–26 June 1995. The U.S. Army has since done away with the program of directly augmenting active duty units with National Guard units. Participating in the training were 65 per cent of the Florida Army National Guard. A convoy of 1,000 vehicles traveled from Miami to Panama City
, Florida to be loaded on barges and shipped to Fort Polk for the National Guard Brigade training. The Brigade also has a training relationship with the 82nd Airborne Division.
Florida National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve officials joined U.S. Representative C.W. Bill Young, R-Fla., 1 December 2001, in announcing plans for a new joint training center that will be the future home of more than 1,700 military reservists. The 216424 square feet (20,106.4 m²) facility to be built at Gateway Center
in Pinellas Park will replace three existing outdated and overcrowded facilities including Tampa's
Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, the JF Campbell National Guard Armory in Clearwater
and the Lovejoy U.S. Army Reserve Center in Tampa. Construction of the new $53.5 million project began in 2002, and was expected to be completed by the spring of 2003. The House Appropriations Committee originally allocated $45 million for the project. Rep. Young, the committee's chairman, was crucial in securing the funds for the facility's construction. The National Guard units expected to be located at the new training center include the 53rd Infantry Brigade (Sep) Headquarters, Headquarters and Headquarters Company – 53rd Infantry Brigade, the 253rd Military Intelligence Company, as well as Companies A and B of the 53rd Support Battalion.
, Georgia for training.
Following training at Fort Stewart, Georgia, the three infantry battalions (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions, 124th Infantry Regiment) deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Miami-based 1st Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Hector Mirable, assumed a physical security mission on the Jordan-Iraq border. During their brief stay at the Jordanian Air Base, the unit conducted security operations, physical fitness training, and honed their combat skills.
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 Florida Army National Guard
Florida Army National Guard
The Florida Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization...
.
History
The 53rd Infantry Brigade is the largest National Guard unit in the state of Florida. The brigade was one of fifteen enhanced readiness brigades, designed and trained to support active duty divisions. The 53rd Infantry Brigade includes 32 units in Florida with 4,166 authorized personnel.The distinctive unit insignia
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...
was originally approved for the Noncolor Bearing Units of the 53d Armored Brigade on 9 January 1967. It was redesignated for the 53d Infantry Brigade on 25 July 1968.
The brigade participated in hurricane relief operations in 1992 in response to Hurricane Andrew
Hurricane Andrew
Hurricane Andrew was the third Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the United States, after the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 and Hurricane Camille in 1969. Andrew was the first named storm and only major hurricane of the otherwise inactive 1992 Atlantic hurricane season...
whereby the brigade was deployed for nearly two months to Miami.
The Florida Army National Guard 53rd Infantry Brigade was the first of 15 Army National Guard enhanced readiness brigades to rotate through the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk
Fort Polk
Fort Polk is a United States Army installation located in Vernon Parish, approximately 7 miles east of Leesville, Louisiana and 20 miles north of DeRidder, Louisiana....
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, 10–26 June 1995. The U.S. Army has since done away with the program of directly augmenting active duty units with National Guard units. Participating in the training were 65 per cent of the Florida Army National Guard. A convoy of 1,000 vehicles traveled from Miami to Panama City
Panama City, Florida
-Personal income:The median income for a household in the city was $31,572, and the median income for a family was $40,890. Males had a median income of $30,401 versus $21,431 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,830...
, Florida to be loaded on barges and shipped to Fort Polk for the National Guard Brigade training. The Brigade also has a training relationship with the 82nd Airborne Division.
Florida National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve officials joined U.S. Representative C.W. Bill Young, R-Fla., 1 December 2001, in announcing plans for a new joint training center that will be the future home of more than 1,700 military reservists. The 216424 square feet (20,106.4 m²) facility to be built at Gateway Center
Gateway Center
Gateway Center may refer to the following places in the United States:*Gateway Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania*Gateway Center building complex in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
in Pinellas Park will replace three existing outdated and overcrowded facilities including Tampa's
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, the JF Campbell National Guard Armory in Clearwater
Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of...
and the Lovejoy U.S. Army Reserve Center in Tampa. Construction of the new $53.5 million project began in 2002, and was expected to be completed by the spring of 2003. The House Appropriations Committee originally allocated $45 million for the project. Rep. Young, the committee's chairman, was crucial in securing the funds for the facility's construction. The National Guard units expected to be located at the new training center include the 53rd Infantry Brigade (Sep) Headquarters, Headquarters and Headquarters Company – 53rd Infantry Brigade, the 253rd Military Intelligence Company, as well as Companies A and B of the 53rd Support Battalion.
Operation Iraqi Freedom 2002-2003
Two infantry battalions of the 53rd Infantry were activated in late December 2002. They were sent to Fort StewartFort Stewart
Fort Stewart is a census-designated place and U.S. Army post primarily in Liberty County and Bryan County, but also extending into smaller portions of Evans, Long, and Tattnall Counties in Georgia, USA. The population was 11,205 at the 2000 census...
, Georgia for training.
Following training at Fort Stewart, Georgia, the three infantry battalions (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions, 124th Infantry Regiment) deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Miami-based 1st Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Hector Mirable, assumed a physical security mission on the Jordan-Iraq border. During their brief stay at the Jordanian Air Base, the unit conducted security operations, physical fitness training, and honed their combat skills.
Order of battle
53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team consists of the following elements:- 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Special Troops Battalion
-
- Headquarters & Headquarters Company
- Company A (Engineer)
- Company B (Network Support)
- Company C (Military Intelligence)
- 124th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion
- Headquarters & Headquarters Company
- Company A
- Company B
- Company C
- Weapons Company
- 124th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion
- Headquarters & Headquarters Company
- Company A
- Company B
- Company C
- Weapons Company
- 153rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Squadron (Reconnaissance, Surveillance & Target Acquisition)
- Headquarters & Headquarters Troop
- Troop A
- Troop B
- Troop C
- Troop D
- 116th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Battalion
- Headquarters & Headquarters Battery
- Battery A
- Battery B
- 53rd Brigade Support Battalion
- Headquarters & Headquarters Company
- Company A (Distribution)
- Company B (Maintenance)
- Company C (Medical)
- Company D (Forward Support - Infantry Battalion)
- Company E (Forward Support - Infantry Battalion)
- Company D (Forward Support - Cavalry Squadron)
- Company F (Forward Support - Field Artillery Battalion)
- Headquarters & Headquarters Company