18th Cavalry Regiment ( United States ) The 18th Cavalry Regiment is a cavalry regiment of the United States Army The 1st Squadron , 18th Cavalry Regiment , is the reconnaissance element of the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the California Army National Guard . Prior to the most recent reorganization of the United States Army National Guard the unit was an Aviation unit . It was equipped with AH - 1F Cobras , and formed part of the 40th Infantry Division ' s Aviation Brigade . Unit history . The 1st Squadron , 18th Cavalry Regiment , was constituted on 22 July 1885 in the California National Guard as the 7th Infantry Battalion and organized from existing companies in southern California . It expanded , reorganized , and was redesignated on 5 May 1888 as the 7th Infantry Regiment . The unit consolidated on 7 December 1895 with the 9th Infantry Regiment ( organized on 8 February 1890 in the California National Guard ) and consolidated unit designated as the 7th Infantry Regiment . It mustered into Federal service on 9 May 1898 at the Presidio of San Francisco as the 7th California Volunteer Infantry ; and mustered out of Federal service on 2 December 1898 at Los Angeles . It mustered into Federal service on 29 June 1916 at Sacramento ; and mustered out of Federal service on 11 November 1916 at Los Angeles . It was drafted into Federal service on 5 August 1917 . It consolidated on 25 September - 1 November 1917 with the 2nd Battalion , Companies L and M , and the Sanitary Detachment , 2nd Infantry Regiment ; the consolidated unit reorganized and was redesignated as the 160th Infantry and assigned to the 40th Division . It demobilized on 7 May 1919 at Camp Kearny in San Diego . Former southern California elements reorganized on 23 August - 6 October 1921 in the California National Guard as the 160th Infantry and was assigned to the 40th Division ; Headquarters was Federally recognized on 31 January 1922 at Los Angeles . The 2nd Battalion 160th Infantry , reorganized and was redesignated on 1 April 1929 as the 2nd Battalion , 185th Infantry , an element of the 40th Division ( 160th Infantry - hereafter separate lineage ) . It expanded , reorganized , and was redesignated in March – April 1930 as the 2nd and 3rd Battalions , 185th Infantry , elements of the 40th Division ( later designated as the 40th Infantry Division ) . It was inducted into Federal service on 3 March 1941 at home stations . It inactivated on 7 April 1946 at Camp Stoneman , CA . The 2nd Battalion , 185th Infantry , was redesignated on 5 August 1946 as the 223rd Infantry and remained assigned to the 40th Infantry Division ( the 3rd Battalion , 185th Infantry , was concurrently redesignated as the 224th Infantry - hereafter separate lineage ) . The 223rd Infantry was organized and Federally recognized on 15 October 1946 with Headquarters at Pasadena Ordered into active Federal service on 1 September 1950 at home stations ( the 223rd Infantry [ NGUS ] organized and was Federally recognized on 2 September 1952 with Headquarters at Pasadena ) . The unit was released on 30 June 1954 from active Federal service and reverted to state control ; Federal recognition was concurrently withdrawn from the 223rd Infantry ( NGUS ) . The 2nd Battalion , 223rd Infantry , consolidated with the 3rd Battalion , 111th Armored Cavalry ( organized and Federally recognized on 26 January 1951 with Headquarters at Van Nuys [ changed on 1 November 1951 to Burbank ] ) ; and the consolidated unit was concurrently reorganized and redesignated as the 139th Tank Battalion , with Headquarters at Burbank , and assigned to the 40th Armored Division ( 223rd Infantry - hereafter separate lineage ) . The 139th Tank Battalion reorganized and was redesignated on 1 July 1959 as the 2nd Medium Tank Battalion , 185th Armor , an element of the 40th Armored Division . The unit reorganized and was redesignated on 1 March 1963 as the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron , 18th Armored Cavalry , and relieved from assignment to the 40th Armored Division . It was reorganized and redesignated on 1 November 1965 as the 1st Squadron , 18th Armored Cavalry ; and ordered into active Federal service on 13 May 1968 at home stations ; before being released on 12 December 1969 from active Federal service and reverting to state control . It was reorganized and redesignated on 13 January 1974 as the 18th Cavalry , a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System , to consist of the 1st Squadron , an element of the 40th Infantry Division . It was withdrawn on 19 January 1988 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System . The 1st Squadron [ less Troops C and D ] was ordered into active Federal service on 1 May 1992 at home station and deployed to the LA Riots . 1st / 18th was first unit on the ground to secure the LA Coliseum , ( On the ground for two weeks ) released on 9 May 1992 and reverted to state control . 21st Century activations and deployments . In the 2003 - 2004 time period the unit was activated in support of Operation Noble Eagle . This was followed by a 14 - month activation to provide a security force for Camp Delta which fell under the GWOT Campaign . During the 2007 California Wildfires approximately 400 Soldiers were activated by the Governor of California to assist local authorities in various functions . 1 - 18th Cavalry was called to active federal service along with the 79th IBCT in October 2008 in support of NATO peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo . 1 - 18th Cavalry subsequently returned to the U . S . in November 2009 . A Gold color metal and enamel device in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned : Or , a tilting spear in bend Vert , between a horse ’ s head couped and a gauntlet of the like , all within a bordure of the second . Attached below the shield is a Gold scroll inscribed “ VELOX ET MORTIFER ” in Black letters . The shield of the coat of arms for the 111th Armored Cavalry Regiment , differenced by a green border , indicates descent of the 139th Tank Battalion from the 3d Battalion of that organization . The colors yellow and green are used for Armor . The horse ’ s head and lance symbolize Cavalry and medieval armor , respectively . The gauntlet represents the shock action of armor and the ability to deliver a decisive blow . The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 139th Tank Battalion on 28 February 1956 . It was redesignated for the 18th Armored Cavalry Regiment on 24 April 1968 . The insignia was redesignated for the 18th Cavalry Regiment on 13 May 1975 . Or , a tilting spear in bend Vert , between a horse ’ s head couped and a gauntlet of the like , all within a bordure of the second . That for the regiments and separate battalions of the California Army National Guard : On a wreath of the colors Or and Vert , the setting sun behind a grizzly bear passant on a grassy field all Proper . Coat of arms . Blazon . Motto VELOX ET MORTIFER ( Swift and Deadly ) . The shield of the coat of arms for the 111th Armored Cavalry Regiment , differenced by a green border , indicates descent of the 139th Tank Battalion from the 3d Battalion of that organization . The colors yellow and green are used for Armor . The horse ’ s head and lance symbolize Cavalry and medieval armor , respectively . The gauntlet represents the shock action of armor and the ability to deliver a decisive blow . The crest is that of the California Army National Guard . Background . The coat of arms was originally approved for the 139th Tank Battalion on 28 February 1956 . It was redesignated for the 18th Armored Cavalry Regiment on 24 April 1968 . The insignia was redesignated for the 18th Cavalry Regiment on 13 May 1975 .