20th Infantry Regiment ( United States ) The 20th Infantry Regiment ( " Sykes ' Regulars " ) is a United States Army infantry regiment . Currently only the 5th Battalion of the 20th Infantry still exists . Stationed at Fort Lewis , WA and part of the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team , 2nd Infantry Division , 5 - 20 Infantry was one of the original battalions selected to take part in the testing and fielding of the Army ' s new Stryker vehicle . History . Creation . It was organized on 6 June 1862 at Fort Independence ( Massachusetts ) , as the 2nd Battalion of the 11th Infantry , one of the nine " three - battalion " regiments of regulars , each battalion containing eight companies of infantry , in contrast to the original ten regular regiments of infantry , which were organized on the traditional ten - company line . The 20th Infantry was first lead by General George Sykes in the Battle of Bull Run . Following the US Civil War , the Army was reorganized by Congress in July 1866 , and the 11th was divided into three regiments , each battalion receiving two additional companies and being organized along traditional lines . The 1st Battalion retained the designation of the 11th Infantry , while the 2nd Battalion became the 20th Infantry and the 3rd Battalion the 29th Infantry . Cold War . The 5th Battalion , 20th Infantry Regiment ( " Sykes ' Regulars " ) was redesignated on 16 August 1986 as Headquarters and Headquarter Company , 5th Battalion , 20th Infantry ( Mechanized ) assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea . From 1986 to 1995 the 5th Battalion , 20th Infantry ( Mechanized ) were responsible for conducting patrol missions along the Korean DMZ during the Cold War . Once the Cold War ended the battalion was pulled off of their permanent position along the most heavily defended frontier in the world , and conducted stability and support operations ( SASO ) throughout South Korea . With the Cold War over the US Army then turned its attention toward the Middle East . Transformation . The Army ’ s evaluation of Desert Storm and operations in the Balkans recognized the need for a rapidly deployable organization that could fill the operational gap between initially deployed light forces , which lack staying power , and the slower deploying heavy armored forces . The Army ’ s answer , first called interim brigade combat team ( IBCT ) , is today the Stryker brigade combat team ( SBCT ) . A SBCT is an infantry brigade mounted on some three hundred Stryker vehicles . This designation was a direct result of the Army ’ s concept of a medium weight , rapid deployable unit that was designed to project power with a sustainable fighting force . A Stryker is a 19 - ton wheeled armored vehicle that is mounted in eleven different configurations with significant upgrades in firepower . Capable of being transported in a C - 130 aircraft , this new weapon is the future of the modular Army . The transformation began in 1999 with the conversion of the 3rd BDE , 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Lewis , WA to the Army ’ s first Stryker brigade . As part of the reorganization , the 5th Battalion , 20th Infantry Regiment , who at that time was assigned to the 1st Brigade , 25th Infantry Division , was hand - picked to lead the transformation process . Thus , the unit was reassigned from the 1st Brigade , 25th Infantry Division to the 3rd Brigade , 2nd Infantry Division . As a result of the 5th Battalion , 20th Infantry Regiment ’ s results in their transformation into a Stryker battalion on 1 February 2001 , the unit was awarded the Army Superior Unit Award . Iraq . Sykes ' Regulars have deployed three times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom ( OIF ) . The 5th Battalion , 20th Infantry Regiment deployed to Iraq ( OIF 2 & 3 ) from November 2003 to October 2004 with seven brother battalions , the 1st Battalion 23rd Infantry Regiment , 2nd Battalion 3rd Infantry Regiment , 1st Squadron , 14th Cavalry Regiment , 3rd Squadron , 17th Cavalry Regiment , 1st Battalion 37th Field Artillery Regiment , 296th Brigade Support Battalion and the 276th Engineer Battalion . Also fighting alongside Sykes ' Regulars were the 18th Engineer Company , Headquarters and Headquarters Company , 3rd BDE , 2nd DIV , 209th Military Intelligence Company , 334th Signal Company , Company C , 52 Infantry Regiment , 1060th Tactical Psyops Detachment and 1290th Tactical Psyops Detachment with the infantrymen from the 5th Battalion , 20th Infantry Regiment , were the first soldiers of the 3rd Brigade , 2nd Infantry Division to enter combat in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom . On 15 December 2003 the battalion then rolled through the City of Samarra at intervals throughout the day . Soldiers of Charlie Company , 5th Battalion , 20th Infantry took part in Operation Sykes Hammer and patrolled the streets of Tal Afar , August 2004 . They worked with the Iraqi National Guard in executing cordon and search operations in the neighborhoods of Tal Afar , which was successful in detained personnel , weapons and propaganda materials . In one year , the battalion operated in a larger area than what they had expected prior to coming to Iraq . The 3rd Brigade as a whole were called on to support major operations when violence heated up in Al Kut , Tal Afar and Najaf . After coming home and going through their second reset the infantrymen of 5th Battalion deployed with the 3rd BDE , 2nd Infantry Division from June 2006 to October 2007 . Sykes ' Regulars deployed from Ft . Lewis , WA to Camp Buehring , Kuwait . While at Camp Buehring Charlie Company was detached to 1 - 14 CAV . Task Force 1 - 14 later deployed from Camp Buerhing to Baghdad , Iraq where they spent the deployment bringing stability and security to the capital city . The rest of the Regulars deployed from Camp Buerhing to Mosul , Iraq relieving the 1st Battalion , 17th Infantry Regiment ( Buffaloes ) of the 172nd Infantry Brigade ( SBCT ) . While in Mosul , Task Force 5 - 20 Infantry was responsible for western Mosul , Hammam Al - Alil , and the rural area west of Mosul . While in Mosul Bronco Troop , 1 - 14 CAV became task organized to 5 - 20 Infantry in Kuwait in exchange for Charlie Company . In November 2006 the Regulars received orders to move from Mosul to Baghdad . In late November 2006 , TF 5 - 20 Infantry conducted a ground assault convoy from Mosul to Taji , Iraq . Immediately upon arriving to Taji , the TF 5 - 20 Infantry launched into al - Anbar province to conduct search and rescue operations in support of a downed aircraft . TF 5 - 20 Infantry returned to Baghdad and began extensive operations throughout MND - B under 3 - 2 SBCT , 2 - 2 IBCT , and other MND - B maneuver forces . During Operation Arrowhead Strike , TF 5 - 20 Infantry worked with the units from 2 - 2 IBCT , marking the first time since the Korean War that two brigades from the 2nd Infantry Division operated jointly in combat operations . In March 2007 , the Regulars moved to FOB Warhorse located within the volatile Diyala Province in support of Operation Orange Justice . During this operation , TF 5 - 20 Infantry , working under 3 - 1 CAV BDE , grew to include Apache and Bone Companies 1 - 12 CAV . This Task Force encountered their toughest fight in Baqubah as they cleared terrorist from al - Qaeda ’ s self - declared capital of the Islamic State of Iraq . In the process , TF 5 - 20 Infantry liberated the people of Buhriz and Tahrir , thus winning the support of significant local leaders . In June 2007 , 3 - 2 SBCT , with 5 - 20 Infantry leading the way conducted a RIP / TOA ( relief in place / transfer of authority ) with 3 - 1 HBCT and assumed responsibility for Baqubah . This change in leadership lead to Operation Arrowhead Ripper , during which through close fighting and the employment of joint firepower , TF 5 - 20 Infantry routed al - Qaeda from Baqubah . During this time the Regulars , in addition to their combat duties , conducted humanitarian missions to help the citizens of Baqubah . Simultaneously while conducting humanitarian aid to the citizens of Baqubah , the TF 5 - 20 Infantry also conducted SASO to promote the confidence and proficiency of the Iraqi Security Forces stationed in the area . The Regulars of 5th Battalion returned home over the span of three months beginning in August 2007 . The last Regular returned to Fort Lewis on 7 November 2007 . Upon redeployment to Ft . Lewis , WA , LTC Bruce P . Antonia relinquished command to LTC Mitchell L . Rambin on 7 November 2007 . After a period of reset and re - integration , the Regulars ' Attack Company and battalion headquarters were tasked with representing the United States at the annual Cooperative Spirit exercise at Hohenfels , Germany in September 2008 . These Regular elements trained alongside other units from the United Kingdom , Canada , Australia and New Zealand . The Regulars were commended for their superior performance during this exercise . Following this , the Regulars began a series of training events at Ft . Lewis and Yakima Training Center to prepare them for their upcoming deployment , culminating in platoon live - fire exercises at Yakima in February 2009 . Immediately following , the Sykes ’ Regulars headed to the National Training Center at Ft . Irwin , CA to conduct their final training event before deployment . Once again , the Regulars got top marks for their performance . In August 2009 , TF 5 - 20 IN deployed once again from Ft . Lewis , WA to Camp Buerhing , Kuwait for their third deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom . After receiving their equipment and training , the Regulars headed north to FOB Warhorse in the Diyala Province of Iraq . Immediately , Rock Company moved out to the Diyala Media Center Combat Outpost ( COP ) to begin their relief in place of the outgoing unit . On 3 September 2009 , 5 - 20 IN conducted a RIP / TOA ( relief in place / transfer of authority ) with 1 - 5 IN Bobcats from Ft . Wainwright , AK . That same day the battalion suffered its first casualties of the deployment ; SSG Todd Selge and SGT Jordan Shay , both of Attack Company , were killed conducting combat operations in Baqubah , Iraq . In September , the Regulars more than doubled their battlespace when they conducted a RIP with 2 - 8 FA , also from Ft . Wainwright , AK . In October , Attack Company and C / 52 IN moved out east towards the Iranian border to conduct a RIP / TOA with TF 3 - 66 AR . On 1 Nov 2009 , Attack and C / 52 IN assumed responsibility for the Balad Ruz Qada . On 1 December 2009 , the Diyala Media Center COP was officially relinquished to the Local Iraqi Security Forces ( ISF ) marking a significant step in returning control of local infrastructure to the Iraqi Government . In February 2010 , Attack Company moved back to FOB Warhorse and FOB Caldwell was turned over to the ISF , marking another significant step in the drawdown of US forces in Iraq . In March 2010 , the Regulars oversaw the very successful second free parliamentary elections in Iraq . In April 2010 , Command Sergeant Major ( CSM ) William Gentry conducted a change of responsibility with CSM Joseph Dallas . CSM Dallas returned to the Regulars after working at the brigade as the Operations Sergeant Major . In May , the Regulars took over additional battlespace when they conducted a RIP / TOA with 2 - 3 IN Patriots and assumed control of the Muqdadiyah Qada . On 11 June 2010 two more Regulars were killed conducting combat operations in Jalula , Iraq : SGT Israel O ’ Bryan and SPC William Yauch . In July 2010 , the Regulars began their redeployment to home station with the final Regulars ’ soldiers landing at Joint Base Lewis - McChord on 6 August 2010 . The official RIP / TOA with 2 - 21 IN Gimlets from Schofield Barracks , HI took place on 25 July 2010 . In the end , the Regulars had conducted four reliefs in place and assumed five separate battalions ' battlespaces while helping train ISF to maintain security and working closely with ISF to increase government and civil capacity . In addition , their efforts were instrumental in conducting the second free parliamentary election in Iraq ' s history . On 14 September 2010 , the 5 - 20 IN colors were officially uncased during the brigade welcome home ceremony . On 29 September 2010 , the Regulars bid farewell to LTC Mitchell L . Rambin after his three years as battalion commander and welcomed LTC Steven J . Soika as the incoming commander . Decorations . Company C additionally entitled to :