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2nd Infantry Division (United States)

The 2nd Infantry Division is a formation of the United States Army. Its current primary mission is the defense of South Korea in the initial stages of an invasion from North Korea until other American units can arrive. There are approximately 17,000 soldiers in the 2nd Infantry Division.

The 2nd Infantry Division, unlike any other division in the Army, is made up partially of Korean soldiers, called KATUSAs (Korean Augmentation to US Army). This program began in 1950 by agreement with South Korean President Syngman Rhee. Some 27,000 KATUSAs served with the US forces at the end of the Korean War. As of May 2006, approximately 1,100 KATUSA Soldiers serve with 2ID.

History

World War I

Constituted September 21, 1917 in the Regular Army as Headquarters, 2nd Infantry Division, 2nd ID was organized on October 26, 1917, at Bourmont, Haute Marne, France. At the time of its activation, the Indianhead Division was composed of the 3d Infantry Brigade, which was a normal Organic Brigade which included the 9th Infantry Regiment; 23d Infantry Regiment; and the 4th Marine Brigade, which consisted of the 5th Marine Regiment and the 6th Marine Regiment, a battalion of field artillery, and various supporting units.

(Special Note: The Navy furnished the hospital corpsmen for the 4th Marine Brigade, 5th Marine Regiment and 6th Marine Regiment, and made a special uniform change which allows hospital corpsmen of these organizations to wear a shoulder strap on the left shoulder of the "Dress Blues" so that the French Fourragere could be worn. These are the only Navy units to wear the Fourragere.

Twice during "The Great War" the division was commanded by Marine Corps generals, Brigadier General Charles A. Doyen and Major General John A. Lejeune, the only time in U.S. Military history when Marine Corps officers commanded an Army division.

The division spent the winter of 1917–1918 training with French Army veterans. Though judged unprepared by French tacticians, the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) was committed to combat in the spring of 1918 in a desperate attempt to halt a German advance toward Paris. The 2nd Infantry Division drew its first blood in the nightmare landscape of the Battle of Belleau Wood, and contributed to shattering the four year old stalemate on the battlefield during the Château-Thierry campaign that followed. On July 28, 1918, MajGen John A. Lejeune assumed command of the 2nd Infantry Division and remained in that capacity until August 1919, when the unit was demobilized. The division won hard fought victories at Soissons and Mont Blanc, for which it was awarded the French Fourragère in the colors of the Croix de Guerre. Finally the Indianhead Division participated in the Meuse-Argonne offensive which spelled the end of any German hope for victory. On November 11, 1918 the Armistice was declared, and the 2nd Infantry Division marched into Germany where it performed occupation duties until April 1919. 2nd Infantry Division returned to U. S. in July 1919.

Major operations

Aisne
Belleau Wood (4th Marine Brigade; 5th Marine Regiment; 6th Marine Regiment ONLY)
St. Mihiel
Meuse-Argonne offensive
Aisne-Marne

Casualties

Killed in action - 1,964 (including USMC, 4,478)
Wounded in action - 9,782 (including USMC, 17,752)
Total - 11,746 (including USMC, 22,230)

Commanders

BG Charles A. Doyen, USMC (October 26, 1917),
MG Omar Bundy, USA (November 8, 1917),
MG James G. Harbord, USA (July 15, 1918),
MG John A. Lejeune, USMC (July 28, 1918)(ad interim 26 July)

Source for the World War I data and information: US Army Center of Military History The following combat chronicles, current as of October 1948, are reproduced from The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950, pp. 510–592.

Note: BG Wendell C. Neville, USMC, is listed as ad interim commanding general of the division from 17-22 July 1919 according to WWI division records extracted from www.history.army.mil/books/wwi/ob/2-cdr-ob.htm

Interwar years

Upon returning to the United States, the division was stationed at Fort Sam Houston, at San Antonio, Texas as one of three divisions to remain intact and on Active Duty for the entire interwar period. It remained there for the next 23 years, serving as an experimental unit, testing new concepts and innovations for the Army. In 1940 the 2nd Infantry Division was the first command reorganized under the new triangular concept, which provided for three separate regiments in each division. Indianhead soldiers pioneered concepts of airmobility and anti-tank warfare, which served the army for the next two decades on battlefields in every corner of the globe.

2ID started taking part in maneuvers at Christine, Texas between January 3 and January 27, 1940. It then moved to Horton, Texas for maneuvers from April 26 to May 28, 1940, followed by maneuvers at Cravens, Louisiana from August 16 to August 23, 1940. It returned to Fort Sam Houston, where it continued training and refitting, until it moved to Brownwood, Texas for the VIII Corps Maneuvers from June 1 through June 14, 1941 at Comanche, Texas. The division was then sent to Mansfield, Louisiana from August 11 through October 2, 1941 for the August-September 1941 Louisiana Maneuvers.

2ID was transferred to the VIII Corps Louisiana maneuver Area on July 27, 1941, and remained there until September 22, 1942, whereapon the 2ID returned to Fort Sam Houston. They then moved to Camp McCoy at Sparta, Wisconsin on November 27, 1942. Four months of intensive training for winter warfare followed. In September 1943 the division received their staging orders, and moved to the Camp Shanks staging area at Orangeburg, New York on October 3, 1943, where they got their Port Call orders. On October 8 the division officially sailed from the New York Port Of Embarkation, and started arriving in Belfast, Northern Ireland on October 17. They then moved over to England, where they trained and staged for forward movement to France.

World War II

Assignments in the European Theater of Operations

October 22, 1943: Attached to First Army
December 24, 1943: XV Corps, but attached to First Army
April 14, 1944: V Corps, First Army
August 1, 1944: V Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group
August 17, 1944: XIX Corps
August 18, 1944: VIII Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group
September 5, 1944: VIII Corps, Ninth Army, 12th Army Group
October 22, 1944: VIII Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group
December 11, 1944: V Corps
December 20, 1944: Attached, with the entire First Army, to the British 21st Army Group
January 18, 1945: V Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group
April 28, 1945: VII Corps
May 1, 1945: V Corps
May 6, 1945: Third Army, 12th Army Group

Narrative

After training in Northern Ireland and Wales from October 1943 to June 1944, the 2nd Infantry Division crossed the channel to land on Omaha Beach on D plus 1, June 7, 1944, near St. Laurent-sur-Mer. Attacking across the Aure River, the Division liberated Trevieres, June 10, and proceeded to assault and secure Hill 192, the key enemy strongpoint on the road to St. Lô. With the hill taken July 11, 1944, the Division went on the defensive until July 26. Exploiting the St. Lô break-through, the 2nd Division advanced across the Vire to take Tinchebray August 15, 1944. The Division then moved west to join the battle for Brest, the heavily defended fortress surrendering September 18, 1944 after a 39-day contest.

The Division took a brief rest September 19–September 26 before moving to defensive positions at St. Vith, Belgium on September 29, 1944. The division entered Germany on October 3, 1944, and the Second was ordered, on December 11, 1944, to attack and seize the Roer River dams. The German Ardennes offensive in mid-December forced the Division to withdraw to defensive positions near Elsenborn, where the German drive was halted. In February 1945 the Division attacked, recapturing lost ground, and seized Gemund, March 4. Reaching the Rhine March 9, the 2ID advanced south to take Breisig, March 10–11, and to guard the Remagen bridge, March 12–March 20.

The Division crossed the Rhine March 21 and advanced to Hadamar and Limburg an der Lahn, relieving elements of the 9th Armored Division, March 28. Advancing rapidly in the wake of the 9th Armored, the 2nd Infantry Division crossed the Weser at Veckerhagen, April 6–April 7, captured Göttingen April 8, established a bridgehead across the Saale, April 14, seizing Merseburg on April 15. On April 18 the Division took Leipzig, mopped up in the area, and outposted the Mulde River; elements which had crossed the river were withdrawn April 24. Relieved on the Mulde, the 2nd moved 200 miles, May 1–May 3, to positions along the German-Czech border near Schonsee and Waldmünchen, where 2 ID relieved the 97th and 99th ID's. The division crossed over to Czechoslovakia on May 4, 1945, and attacked in the general direction of Pilsen, attacking that city on VE Day.

2nd Infantry Division returned to the New York Port Of Embarkation on July 20, 1945, and arrived at Camp Swift at Bastrop, Texas on July 22, 1945. They started a training schedule to prepare them to participate in the scheduled invasion of Japan, but they were still at Camp Swift on VJ Day. They then moved to the Staging Area at Camp Stoneman at Pittsburg, California on March 28, 1946, but the move eastward was cancelled, and they received orders to move to Fort Lewis at Tacoma, Washington. They arrived at Fort Lewis on April 15, 1946, which became their Home Station. From their Fort Lewis base, they conducted Arctic, air transportability, amphibious, and maneuver training.

World War II Honors

Campaign Participation Credit

Normandy
Northern France
Rhineland
Ardennes-Alsace
Central Europe

Days of combat: 303

Awards and decorations

Commanders

MG John C. H. Lee (November 6, 1941 – May 8, 1942)
MG Walter M. Robertson (May 9, 1942 – June 1945)
BG W. K. Harrison (June – September 1945)
MG Edward M. Almond (September 1945 – June 1946)
MG Paul W. Kendall (June 1946 – May 24, 1948)
MG Harry J. Collins (June 30, 1948 –)
MG Kid Chris (February 2, 1952 –)
MG Henry "Gunfighter" Emerson (1970's)

Casualties

Killed in action: 3,031
Wounded in action: 12,785
Died of wounds: 457

Korean War

With the outbreak of hostilities in Korea during the summer of 1950, the 2nd Infantry Division was quickly alerted for movement to the Far East Command. The division arrived in Korea, via Pusan on July 23, becoming the first unit to reach Korea directly from the United States. Initially employed piecemeal, the entire division was committed as a unit on August 24, 1950, relieving the 24th Infantry Division at the Naktong River Line. The first big test came when the North Koreans struck in a desperate human wave attack on the night of August 31. In the 16-day battle that followed, the division’s clerks, bandsmen, technical and supply personnel joined in the fight to defend against the attackers.

Shortly thereafter, the 2ID was the first unit to break out of the Pusan Perimeter and they led the Eighth Army drive to the Manchurian Border. Now within fifty miles of the Manchurian border when Chinese forces entered the fight, soldiers of the 2nd Infantry Division were given the mission of protecting the rear and right flank of the Eighth Army as it retired to the South. Fighting around Kunu-ri cost the division nearly one third of its strength, but was ten times more costly to the enemy and the way was kept open. The Chinese winter offensive was finally blunted by the 2nd Infantry Division on January 31 at Wonju. Taking up the offensive in a two-prong attack in February 1951, the Division repulsed a powerful Chinese counter-offensive in the epic battles of Chipyong-ni and Wonju. The United Nations front was saved and the general offensive continued.

Again in April and May 1951, the 2nd Infantry Division was instrumental in smashing the communist's spring offensive. For its part in this action the 2nd Infantry Division was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. What followed were alternating periods of combat and rest, with the division participating in the Battle of Bloody Ridge and Battle of Heartbreak Ridge. Finally, on April 9, 1954, the Division was moved to a rear area near Chi-po-ri and on August 20, 1954, four years after its last unit arrived in Korea, the 2ID was alerted for re-deployment to the United States.

The more than 7,000 combat deaths of the 2nd Division in Korea are the highest total among any modern U.S. division in any war. Its nearly 15000 combat deaths in World War I, World II, and Korea are the greatest combined total of all U.S. divisions and equal its average combat strength.

Korean War Honors

Awards and decorations

Medals of Honor: 17

9th Infantry Regiment: Loren R. Kaufman (September 4 and September 5, 1950), Edward C. Krzyzowski (August 31, September 1, September 2 and September 3, 1951), Joseph R. Ouellette (August 31, September 1, September 2 and September 3, 1950), David M. Smith (September 1, 1950), Luther H. Story (September 1, 1950) and Travis E. Watkins (August 31, September 1, September 2 and September 3, 1950).

23rd Infantry Regiment: Junior D. Edwards (January 2, 1951), Hubert L. Lee (February 1, 1951), Herbert K. Pililaau (September 17, 1951), John A. Pittman (November 26, 1950) and William S. Sitman (February 14, 1951).

38th Infantry Regiment: Tony K. Burris (October 8 and October 9, 19510, Frederick F. Henry (September 1, 1950), Charles R. Long (February 12, 1951) and Ronald E. Rosser (January 12, 1952).

15th Field Artillery Battalion: Lee R. Hartell (August 27, 1951)

2nd Reconnaissance Company: Charles W. Turner (September 1, 1950)

Casualties

7,094 Killed in action
16,575 Wounded in action
338 Died of wounds

Reorganization

In the summer of 1954 the 2nd Infantry Division was transferred from Korea to Fort Lewis, Washington, where it remained for only two years, until being transferred to Alaska in August 1956. On November 8, 1957, it was announced that the division was to be deactivated. However, a few short months later, in the spring of 1958, the Department of the Army announced that the 2nd Infantry Division would be reorganized at Fort Benning, Georgia, with personnel and equipment of the 10th Infantry Division returning from Germany. Fort Benning remained the home of the new 2nd Infantry Division from 1958 to 1965, where they were initially assigned the mission of a training division. To improve combat readiness, in March 1962 the 2ID was designated as a Strategic Army Corps (STRAC) unit. Following this the Division became engaged in intensified combat training, tactical training, and field training exercises, in addition to special training designed to improve operational readiness.

Back to Korea

As a result of the formation of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) at Fort Benning in 1965, the 2nd Infantry Division's stateside units were reassigned to the new formation and the existing 1st Cavalry Division in Korea took on the title of the 2nd Infantry Division. Thus the division formally returned to Korea in July 1965. North Korean forces were engaging in increasing border incursions and infiltration attempts and the 2nd Infantry Division was called upon to help halt these attacks. On November 2, 1966, soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment were killed in an ambush by North Korean forces. In 1967 enemy attacks in the demilitarized zone increased, as a result, 16 American soldiers were killed that year.

In 1968 North Koreans continued to probe across the DMZ, and in 1969, while on patrol, 4 soldiers of 3d Battalion, 23d Infantry were killed. On August 18, 1976, during a routine tree-trimming operation within the DMZ, two American officers of the Joint Security Force (Joint Security Area) were axed to death in a melee with North Korean border guards called the Axe Murder Incident. What resulted was known as Operation Paul Bunyan. The 2nd Infantry Division was chosen to support the United Nations Command response to this incident and on August 21, Task Force Brady (named after the 2nd ID Commander) in support of Task Force Vierra (named after the Joint Security Area Bn. Commander), a group of ROK soldiers, American infantry, and engineers, swept into the area and cut down the infamous "Panmunjeom Tree". The 2nd Infantry Division delivered an unmistakable message to the North Koreans, as well as to the world.

The 2nd Infantry Division is still stationed in Korea, with a number of camps near the DMZ. Command headquarters are at Camp Red Cloud in Uijongbu.

Operation Iraqi Freedom

During the late spring of 2004, much of the soldiers of the 2nd Infantry Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team were given notice that they were about to be ordered to further deployment, with duty in Iraq. Units involved in this call-up included: 1/503rd Infantry Regiment (Air Assault), 1/506th Infantry Regiment (Air Assault) , 2/17th Field Artillery, 1/9 Infantry Regiment (Mechanized), 44th Engineers Battalion, 2nd Forward Support Battalion, A Company 102nd Military Intelligence, B Company 122nd Signal and portions of the 2/72nd Armor. Time from first notice of deployment to actual “wheels-up” exit of the peninsula was very short. As such, an extreme amount of training was conducted by the Brigade as they switched from a focus of the foreign defense of South Korea to the more offensive operations that were going to be needed in action in Iraq. Furthermore, time was given for the majority of the soldiers to enjoy ten days of leave. This was vital: many of the soldiers had been in South Korea for a year or more with only two weeks or less time in the United States during their stay of duty. More, they were about to depart on a deployment that was scheduled to last at least another year. Finally, in the beginning of August 2004, the Brigade deployed to Iraq.

Upon landing in country, the 2nd BCT was given strategic command to much of the sparsely populated area south and west of Fallujah. Their mission, however, changed when the major strategic actions began to take place within the city proper. At this time, the Brigade Combat Team was refocused and given control of the eastern half of the volatile city of Ar-Ramadi. Within a few weeks of taking over operational control from the previous units, 2nd Brigade began experiencing violent activity that began the WIA and KIA toll. Many of the units had to physically move to new camps in support of this new mission. Primary focus of the 2nd BCT for much of their deployment was the struggle to gain local support and to minimize casualties.

The Brigade was spread out amongst many camps. To the west of the city of Ar-Ramadi sat the camp of Junction City. 2ID units stationed there included 2nd Brigade Headquarters, 2/17 Field Artillery, 1/9 Infantry, 44th Engineers Battalion, A Company 102nd Military Intelligence, B Company 122nd Signal and C company (a medical company from 2nd Forward Support Battalion). To the eastern end of the city sat a much more austere camp, known ironically as the Combat Outpost. This was home to the 1/503rd Infantry Regiment. East of them but outside of the city proper itself was the town of Habbiniya and the 1/506th Infantry Regiment. Adjacent to this camp was the logistically important camp of Al-Taqaddum, where the 2nd Forward Support Battalion was stationed.

For this mission, the Brigade fell under the direct command not of the 2nd Infantry Division, but rather the Marine unit that was in control at the time. For the first six months while in Ramadi, the BCT fell under to the 1st Marine Division. For the second half of the deployment, they were attached to the 2nd Marine Division. While the Marines do not sport patches on their uniforms as such, the units of the 2nd BCT involved are authorized to now wear any of the following combat patches: the 2nd Infantry Division patch, the 1st Marine Division unit patch or the 2nd Marine Division unit patch. {This was ironic-in World War I the 5th Marine Regiment and the 6th Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division had fought under the US Army's 2nd Infantry Division. Now in the Iraq War the US Army's 2nd Infantry Division 2nd BCT fought under the 1st Marine Division!}

The 2nd Brigade Combat Team was in action in the city of Ramadi for many historical events but most notably the Iraqi national elections of January 2005. Much man-power and effort was put into stabilizing the city for this event. While the voting went off without a hitch and little to no violence was seen within the city, a minimal amount of voters participated (estimated to be in the 700 person range for the eastern half of the city, according to 2nd BCT officials). While the numbers left something to be desired, the BCT noted the lack of violence as a sign of success.

The 2nd BCT also left its mark on the area in other ways. They built several new camps within the city. For security reasons, many are left unverified, however ones that can be confirmed include Camps Trotter and Corregidor built to ease the burden on the accommodations at Combat Outpost.

In July 2005, the Brigade began to get relieved by units of the United States National Guard, as well as the Third Infantry Division of the Regular Army. The units of the 2nd BCT were given word that they would not be returning to South Korea but, rather, to Fort Carson, Colorado in an effort to restructure the Army and house more soldiers on American soil.

Division Commanders

BG Charles A. Doyen OCT 17 – NOV 17

MG Omar Bundy NOV 17 – JUL 18

MG James G. Harbord JUL 18 – AUG 18

MG John A. Lejeune AUG 18 – DEC 19

COL Harry A. Eaton DEC 19 – MAR 20

MG James G. Harbord MAR 20 – JUL 21

MG John L. Hines JUL 21 – MAR 22

BG Edward M. Lewis MAR 22 – MAY 23

BG Dennis L. Nolan MAY 23 – SEP 23

MG Ernest Hinds SEP 23 – MAY 25

MG Paul B. Malone MAY 25 – SEP 26

MG William D. Connor SEP 26 – JAN 28

BG Thomas G. Donaldson JAN 28 – MAY 28

BG Albert J. Bonley MAY 28 – DEC 33

MG Halstead Dorey DEC 33 – OCT 34

BG Charles Howland OCT 34 – APR 35

MG Frank C. Bolles APR 35 – OCT 35

BG Alexander T. Overshine OCT 35- APR 36

MG Charles E. Kilbourne APR 36 – JUN 36

MG Herbert J. Brees JUN 36 – OCT 36

MG James K. Parsons OCT 36 – MAY 38

MG Frank W. Rowell MAY 38 – MAR 39

MG William K. Krueger MAR 39 – OCT 40

MG James L. Collins OCT 40 – MAR 41

BG Edmund L. Daley MAR 41 – APR 41

BG John Greely APR 41 – NOV 41

MG C. W. Lee NOV 41 – MAY 42

MG Walter M. Robertson MAY 42 – JUN 45

BG William K. Harrison JUN 45 – SEP 45

MG Edward M. Almond SEP 45 – MAY 46

MG Paul W. Kendall MAY 46 - JUL 48

MG Harry J. Collins JUL 48 – APR 50

MG Lawrence B. Keiser APR 50 – DEC 50

MG Robert B. McClure DEC 50 – JAN 51

MG Clark L. Ruffner JAN 51 – AUG 51

BG Thomas F. Deshazo AUG 51 – SEP 51

MG Robert N. Young SEP 51 – MAY 52

MG James C. Fry MAY 52 – MAY 53

MG William L. Barriger MAY 53 – MAR 54

MG John F. R. Seitz MAR 54 – AUG 54

MG Robert L. Howze Jr. AUG 54 – SEP 54

MG Thomas S. Timberman SEP 54 – AUG 55

MG Paul L. Freeman, Jr. AUG 55 – AUG 56

MG James F. Collins AUG 56 – FEB 57

BG John F. Ruggles FEB 57 – FEB 57

MG Gilman O. Mudgett FEB 57 – JUN 58

BG Miller O. Perry JUN 58 – JUL 58

MG Robert H. Wienecke JUL 58 – FEB 58

BG Miller O. Perry FEB 60 – FEB 60

BG William L. Hardick FEB 60 – MAR 60

MG Frederick W. Gibb MAR 60 – JUN 61

BG William L. Hardick JUN 61 – JUL 61

BG Charles H. White JUL 61 – AUG 61

BG Royal Reynolds AUG 61 – AUG 61

MG Charles H. Chase AUG 61 – SEP 62

MG Charles Billengslea SEP 62 – SEP 64

MG John H. Chiles SEP 64 – JUL 65

MG Hugh M. Exton JUL 65 – AUG 65

BG Robert R. Williams AUG 65 – AUG 65

MG John H. Chiles AUG 65 – JUL 66

MG George B. Pickett Jr. JUL 66 – MAY 67

MG Frank C. Izenour MAY 67 – JUN 68

MG Leland G. Cagwin JUN 68 – SEP 69

MG Salve H. Matheson SEP 69 – OCT 70

MG G. H. Woodward OCT 70 – OCT 71

MG Jeffery C. Smith OCT 71 – MAY 73

MG Henry E. Emerson MAY 73 – MAY 75

MG J. R. Thurman MAY 75 – JUN 76

MG Morris J. Brady JUN 76 – JAN 78

MG David E. Grange JAN 78 – JUN 79

MG Robert C. Kingston JUN 79 – JUN 81

MG James H. Johnson JUN 81 – NOV 82

BG Lee D. Brown NOV 82 – DEC 82

BG Harison H. Williams DEC 82 – DEC 82

MG James H. Johnson DEC 82 – JUL 83

MG Henry Doctor JUL 83 – AUG 85

MG Gary E. Luck AUG 85 – DEC 86

MG Jack B. Farris DEC 86 – JUN 88

MG Jack D. Woodall JUN 88 – NOV 89

MG Caryl G. Marsh NOV 89 – JUN 91

MG James T. Scott JUN 91 – MAY 93

MG John N. Abrams MAY 93 – MAR 95

MG Tommy R. Franks MAR 95 – MAY 97

MG Michael B. Sherfield MAY 97 – SEP 98

MG Robert F. Dees SEP 98 - SEP 00

MG Russel L. Honoré SEP 00 - JUL 02

MG John R. Wood JUL 02 - SEP 04

MG George A. Higgins SEP 04 - MAY 06

MG James A. Coggins MAY 06 - NOV 07

MG John W. Morgan III NOV 07 - Current

Locations

Camp Red Cloud (Division Command) located in Uijeongbu City

Camp Casey: located in Dongducheon City, 45 miles North of Seoul; 17 miles south of DMZ

Camp Castle

Camp Greaves: located North of the Imjin River, 3km South of the DMZ

Camp Hovey

Camp Stanley

Camp Humphreys: located near Pyeongtaek City, South of Seoul.

Fort Lewis

Fort Carson

Restructuring of 2nd BCT

Upon arriving at Fort Carson, the Brigade began to quickly change. In fact, this change is still under way. Unit names and designations were taken from the 2nd BCT and unfurled on other bases. For example, the 1/503rd (Air Assault) Infantry Regiment disbanded in Fort Carson and transferred to 173rd Infantry Brigade (Airborne) in Italy where it is now stationed with its sister battalion, the 2/503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne). The soldiers of the former 1/503rd now became members of the 1/9th Infantry. The soldiers of the former 1/506th became the members of the 2/12th Infantry. The previous soldiers of the 1/9th Infantry became known as the newly formed, 3-61st Cavalry. The “new” Brigade Combat Team is made up of the following units:

HHC
2nd Brigade Support Battalion
2nd Special Troops Battalion
2nd Battalion 12th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment
3rd Squadron 61st Cavalry Regiment
2nd Battalion 17th Field Artillery Regiment

The transformation now has the BCT more precisely considered an Infantry Brigade Combat Team, in accordance with the new standards for the modular force. In October 2006, 2nd BCT returned to Iraq. This brigade, while physically located at Ft. Carson, has reflagged as 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. 5th BCT, 2ID, will reflag to 2nd BCT, 2ID at Ft. Lewis.