State of the Regiment 

 Upon returning from deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 04-06 in 

March of 2006 to Fort Carson, CO, the Regiment underwent dramatic changes to its 

organization. Before the changes would take place, the Regiment would be recognized by 

President George W. Bush, in a 90 minute speech in March. The President lauded the 

Regiment for its body of work in Tall Afar, Iraq, as an example of executing the clear, 

hold and build concept as a success. In May, the Regiment officially celebrated its return 

home from OIF III at Fort Carson. Joining the Regiment in its celebration was Mayor 

Najiim Abdullah Al-Jibouri’s of Tall Afar, Iraq, whose letter to President Bush and 

General George Casey, Commander of Troops in Iraq, praised the troopers for their 

courage and bravery in freeing his city from the fear of insurgents. Mayor Najiim’s visit 

was highlighted by his moving speech during the dedication of the Regiment’s Memorial 

monument to its fallen troopers from OIF III. The Regiment with its place in history 

intact for their efforts during OIF III begins its transformation. Predator Battery was 

deactivated and LONGKNIFE Squadron reflagged as another unit. As the Regiment 

prepared for a BRAC move to Fort Hood, many Troopers remained behind to form the 

nucleus of a new brigade belonging to the 4th Infantry Division. On 13 July, 2006, 3d 

ACR uncased its colors at Fort Hood, opening a new chapter in the Regimental history. 

 When the Regiment moved from Fort Carson to Fort Hood, the foremost concern 

was personnel; after all, the Regiment brought only 550 Troopers down from Colorado. 

After the uncasing ceremony, the Regiment began receiving new Troopers in bulk. 

SABRE received initial priority for 19K and 19D MOS Troopers, as they were slotted to 

undergo NET first. In conjunction with the uncasing ceremony, 1-1 Aviation reflagged 

as 4/3 ACR, the new LONGKNIFE. The inflow of personnel remained constant enough 

to where now the Regiment is at 99% of its authorized strength and ready to conduct the 

extensive collective training of the 3rd Quarter. 

 The Regiment arrived at Fort Hood with almost no equipment. The primary 

combat systems, the M1 Abrams and M3 Bradleys, had been left in Kuwait when the 

Regiment was redeploying. Thus began an intensive effort to outfit 3d ACR with all of 

the newest gear the Army had to offer. Starting in September, 2/3 ACR fielded the first 

M1A2 SEPv2 tanks, the latest iteration of the extremely successful tank model. In 

October, SABRE received the Regiment’s first M3A3 Block 2 Cavalry Fighting Vehicles. 

Now, in March, the Regiment is fully fielding with its 123 tanks and 125 Bradleys. In 

addition to these critical platforms, 4/3 ACR has been completely outfitted with the latest 
AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters, with its three Troops replacing the 

previous three Troops of OH-58D Kiowa Warriors. The Regiment recently completed 

the fielding and certification of its indirect fire assets, both M109A6 Paladin and M1064 

120mm mortar systems. The Regiment is as lethal now as ever before, ready to tackle the 

missions ahead. 

The above fielding only covers the most visible equipping of the Regiment. 

Inside the vehicles are the latest Command and Control systems and communications 

devices that bring the Regiment on-line with other “digitized” units. The Future Battle 

Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) system is now hard-wired into the fleet of 

tactical vehicles, providing the commanders with extraordinary situational awareness 

with regards to both friendly and enemy forces. Combined with the extensive fielding of 

Army Battle Command Systems, from Maneuver Control Stations to monitor and control 

the ground squadrons, to the All-Source Analysis System, an intelligence data base 

structure designed to facilitate pattern and link analysis of enemy actions, the Regimental 

Commander now has unprecedented resources at his disposal to plan and execute 

missions. 

 Once the Regiment had the personnel and equipment it needed, extensive training 

became possible. While waiting on equipment fielding, the Troopers were able to refine 

their skills with their individual and crew served weapons, as well as Warrior Tasks and 

Battle Drills Training. Beginning with Gunnery exercises in November and culminating 

in platoon and troop situational training exercises starting in the 2nd Quarter, the 

Regiment is intent on building the small level units; the lethal and agile teams, squads 

and platoons that will be so crucial to success if called upon to deploy. The capstone 

event of the 3rd Quarter collective training period is 3d ACR’s Cavalry Table XIII 

Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise (CALFEX) that provides Troop and Company 

Commanders the opportunity to maneuver their units in a permissive range environment 

while simultaneously coordinating Artillery, Mortars, AH-64D Attack Helicopters and 

USAF Fixed wing CAS. This exercise brings all the assets of the 3d Armored Cavalry to 

bear against a simulated enemy armored attack across a notional international border. 

Department of Defense announced in May, 2007, that the Regiment would be deploying 

to Iraq in the fall of 2007. Starting at the higher levels, the Regiment conducted a 

COMMEX during the first week of May to exercise the new Command and Control 

systems, and construct the framework of information flow and control of maneuver 

formations prior to deployment to the National Training Center. 

The Regiment already poised for their National Training Center rotation in June, 

took the news as a sense of motivation to ensure it would be ready by distinguishing itself 

at NTC. The Regiments movement to the National Training Center was the first time the 

Regiment deployed with all of its equipment and personal to a combat training center in 

preparation for their eventual deployment to Iraq. During the Regiments 07-09 rotation, 

officials at NTC noted that it was the best rotation they had witnessed versus 23 previous 

rotations. The Regiment set a new record at NTC for miles installment of all its combat 

vehicles a record that may stand for a long time. Prior to the Regiment’s return to Fort 

Hood; key leaders participated in the prestigious Luck 16 ceremony with leaders from 

11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. 
When the 3d Cavalry joined the 2d and 11th in the General Defense Plan of 

Europe, the regiments became known as the "Lucky 16." Whenever two of the Lucky 16 

Regiments are in the same location the Lucky 16 convenes. 

 The Regiment’s move to NTC in June served as an exciting opportunity to 

exercise all of the new equipment in a multi-echelon, full-spectrum environment. Based 

on past experiences in Iraq and anticipated future missions, the rotation should prove to 

be challenging, but extremely constructive to the fighting capabilities of the Regiment. 

After the NTC rotation, the Regiment will be effectively poised for world-wide 

deployment, ready to execute missions when called upon, and prepared to add additional 

honors to an already storied unit. BRAVE RIFLES!