# 1st Battalion, 635th Armored Regiment

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The 1st Battalion, 635th Armored Regiment is a combined-arms battalion of the 635th Armored Regiment, Kansas Army National Guard, United States Army. It is associated with the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team. The 635th Armored Regiment takes its lineage from the 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment "First Kansas", which, redesignated on 17 OCT 2020 while the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment formed what would become the first part of the 635th Armored Regiment in late 2008, even though small formations existed, unofficially, before then.
The battalion has two armored companies operating the M1A2 System Enhancement Package version 2 Abrams Battle Tank and one mechanized infantry company operating the M2A3 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle. These companies are augmented with mortars, snipers, fires support, medical, and communications sections, and are sustained by an expeditionary forward support company.

## History
### Unit History

The 1st Battalion, 635th Armor Regiment was originally constituted on 25 March 1953 in the Air National Guard as the 891st Engineer Aviation Battalion. On 1 August 1953, the battalion was allotted to the Kansas Army National Guard, and it was organized and federally recognized in January 1954, with personnel drawn from both new and existing units. Its initial headquarters was located in Manhattan, Kansas.
In 1957, the battalion underwent a reorganization and was redesignated as the 891st Engineer Battalion. On 1 February 1976, the unit was converted and redesignated as the 635th Armor, becoming a parent regiment within the Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS) with the 1st Battalion as a constituent element.
The 635th Armor was withdrawn from the Combat Arms Regimental System "CARS" on 1 June 1989 and reorganized under the U.S. Army Regimental System, with its headquarters remaining in Manhattan. In March 1990, the regiment was further reorganized to include the 1st and 2nd Battalions as elements of the 35th Infantry Division, with battalion headquarters in Manhattan and Salina, respectively.
In 2008, the 1st Battalion of the 137th Infantry Regiment was consolidated into the 635th Armor, resulting in the combined unit being designated as the 1st Battalion, 635th Armor. This consolidation continued a long history of transformation for the unit.
On 17 October 2020, the 2nd Combined Arms Battalion of the 137th Infantry Regiment, the last active battalion of that regiment, was redesignated as the 1st Battalion, 635th Armor Regiment. This marked a significant moment in the battalion's history, continuing its evolution within the U.S. Army and Kansas National Guard.

### War on Terror

2004 Yugoslavia Deployment
Approximately 350 soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 635th Armor, departed on the first leg of a deployment to Kosovo on Oct. 27, 2004 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, NATO’s peacekeeping operation in the former Yugoslavia. The battalion, headquartered in Manhattan, had units in Emporia, Junction City, and Lenexa. It was equipped with the M1A1 Abrams tank, but they would not be making the trip. The battalion’s first stop was to be Fort Lewis, Washington, followed by their entry into Kosovo. Here their mission was to assist in stability and support operations. On Friday, Jan, 27, 2006 the over 300 soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 635th Armor, returned from their 15-month deployment to Kosovo. While there, they had provided force protection and fixed and roving security, as well as escort duty.
2019 Operation Spartan Shield/Inherent Resolve Deployment
The 1st Battalion, 635th Armor Regiment, along with the 170th Maintenance Company, deployed to the Central Command Area from the dates of February 2019 to November 2019 in support of Operation Spartan Shield & Inherent Resolve. While there, personnel were rotated around to the areas of Kuwait, Iraq, Syria, Jordan and UAE. The unit participated in the main training missions of Iron Union 2019 and Eager Lion 19.
While, at this time, the unit was officially named, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, they still fell under the 635th Armored Regiment due to Reorganizations completion for after deployment and officially wore the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team Patch.
2024 Operation Spartan Shield/Inherent Resolve Deployment
The 1st Battalion, 635th Armor Regiment, along with the 170th Maintenance Company, a combined of 700+ Soldiers deployed to the Central Command Area from the dates of February 2024 to November 2024 in support of Operation Spartan Shield & Inherent Resolve under the name of Task Force Reaper alongside the other states of California, Georgia, Kentucky and Mississippi. While there, personnel were rotated around to the areas of Kuwait, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and UAE. The unit participated in many training missions, such as Iron Union 2024, Eager Lion 24 and the construction of bases in Saudi Arabia. In November 2024, the unit awarded over 40+ Combat Infantryman and Combat Action Badges for combat actions due to IDF and Drone Strikes in Syria during their deployment.

### Present structure

The Unit is composed of the following;
* Headquarters, Kansas City and Junction City
* Company A, Emporia
* Company B, Lawrence
* Company C, Wichita and Lawrence
* Detachment 1, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 114th Field Artillery, Junction City
* Company G, 106th Brigade Support Battalion, Manhattan and Kansas City