2nd Battalion , 153rd Infantry Regiment ( United States ) Background . The history of the 2nd Battalion , 153rd Infantry as an individual battalion really begins with the reorganization of the 39th Infantry Division in 1967 and the creation of the 39th Infantry Brigade ( Separate ) . For history of the 2nd Battalion prior to 1967 , see 153rd Infantry Regiment ( United States ) and 39th Infantry Division ( United States ) . Creation of the 39th Infantry Brigade . In 1967 the 39th Infantry Division was reorganized and redesignated as the 39th Infantry Brigade ( Separate ) and in 1973 was paired with the US 101st Airborne Division as a training partner and became an air - assault brigade . In 1994 the 39th was again reorganized and gained its designation as an " Enhanced " brigade . In 1999 , the 39th became part of the 7th Infantry Division under the Army Integrated Division concept which paired National Guard and Reserve brigades with active duty headquarters and support units . In 2006 the 39th Brigade was reorganized as a Brigade Combat Team under the United States Army ' s new modular design concept . Overseas training deployments . The 2nd Battalion , 153rd Infantry units conducted numerous overseas training rotations throughout the 1980s and early 1990s . Operation Southern Watch . Company B , 2nd Battalion , 153 Infantry , and Company B , 3rd Battalion , 153rd Infantry of the 39th BCT were activated for Operation Southern Watch , May through September 1999 . B / 2 - 153 deployed to Kuwait and provided security at Patriot Missile Batteries during these deployments . The mission lasted a total of seven months , and was the first " pure " National Guard effort in the region . Company C , 1st Battalion , 153rd Infantry carried on the 39th ' s role in Operation Southern Watch when they replaced Company B , 2 - 153rd in September 1999 . Multinational Force and Observers ( MFO ) . On 10 October 2001 , 2 – 153 IN " Gunslinger " was activated in support of the Global War on Terror . Second Battalion was sent to Egypt in order to take over the Multinational Force and Observers mission , freeing up regular army infantry units to deploy to Afghanistan . The 2 - 153 ' s mission during the MFO was : " . . . to supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the Egyptian - Israeli Treaty of Peace and employ best efforts to prevent any violation of its terms . " This mission was accomplished by carrying out four tasks : Operating checkpoints , observation posts and conducting reconnaissance patrols on the international border as well as within Zone C ; verification of the terms of the peace treaty not less than twice a month ; verification of the terms of the peace treaty within forty eight hours , upon the request of either party , and ensuring freedom of international marine navigation in the Strait of Tiran and access to the Gulf of Aqaba . This was the first " pure " National Guard takeover of the MFO mission . 2 - 153rd deactivated on 11 October 2002 . Operation Iraqi Freedom II . The ramp - up . In 2002 the 39th Brigade was notified that it would be participating in a rotation to the Joint Readiness Training Center ( JRTC ) at Fort Polk , LA . For National Guard units , a rotation to JRTC is a three year process that provides additional money , resources and training opportunities in order to improve unit readiness before the actual rotation through the JRTC . The battalion was required to complete a Mission Rehearsal Exercise during the Annual Training 2003 which was conducted at Fort Chaffee , Arkansas . Less than a month after the completion of this major training milestone , the 39th Brigade received its alert for deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom on 28 July 2003 . Consolidation . Because of the 2002 deployment of the 2 – 153rd to the MFO , the battalion was deemed non - deployable as an organization ; however the soldiers of the battalion were to deploy . The decision was made by Brigadier General Chastain to transfer the battalion commander and staff from 2 – 153rd to 3 – 153rd . The 3 - 153rd commander and staff were transferred to the 2 – 153rd and were designated to function as the brigade ' s rear detachment during OIF II . This transfer lead to the 3 - 153rd often being referred to as the " Two Thirds Battalion " . 3 – 153rd adopted the 2 – 153rd nickname and call sign , " Gunslingers " for OIF II . During consolidation of the 1st , 2nd and 3rd Battalions , 153rd Infantry regiment for OIF II , efforts were made to maintain unit integrity at least the platoon level . The units were consolidated in the following fashion . While the 2nd Battalion , did not officially deploy for OIF II , its soldiers did . For a history of their accomplishments , see the articles on 1 - 153rd IN and 3 - 153rd IN . Reorganization as a Brigade Combat Team . Upon redeployment in 2005 , the 39th Brigade immediately began a major reorganization that transformed the brigade from an Enhanced Separate Brigade ( eSB ) to an Infantry Brigade Combat Team ( IBCT ) under the United States Army ' s new Modular Design . This redesign of the army was intended to make the force more easily deployable by making brigades more self - contained and less dependent on support organizations at the division level . Major changes for the 2nd Battalion , 153rd Infantry included the activation of a Forward Support Company , Company F , 39th BSB . Along with this reorganization came a significant re - stationing of several units within the state of Arkansas . Operation Katrina . After Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana in August 2005 , members of the 2nd Battalion , 153rd Infantry were deployed to New Orleans by C - 130 s from the Little Rock Air Force Base to support the relief and recovery efforts there . Under tactical control of the Louisiana National Guard , 2 – 153rd soldiers were given the mission of providing security and food and water to the citizens of Louisiana . Members of the 2 – 153rd IN and the 39th IBCT remained deployed in Louisiana until February 2006 . Operation Jump Start . In June 2006 the 39th Brigade began deploying troops along the Southwest Border with Mexico as part of Operation Jump Start . The brigade manned two sectors of the border around Lordsburg , New Mexico and near Deming , New Mexico . Unit members occupied Observation Posts and reported activity along the border the United States Border Patrol . Various battalions within the 39th Brigade were tasked with supplying volunteer companies during this period . While serving in Operation Jump Start members of the battalion were able to begin preparing for the 39th Brigade ' s second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom . It is ironic that the 1st Arkansas Infantry , the parent unit of the 153rd Infantry Regiment was stationed in these same areas of New Mexico ninety years earlier during General " Black Jack " Pershing ' s punitive Mexican Expedition against Pancho Villa . Second OIF deployment . The 2nd Battalion , 153rd Infantry received an alert for a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in April 2007 . Members of the battalion had been home almost exactly two years since demobilizing after OIF II . This deployment would be dramatically different from the batttalion ' s first deployment to OIF . Instead of deploying as an infantry battalion , the 2 – 153rd was tasked with filling six Unit Requests for Forces ( URFs ) . These taskings involved supplying Convoy Security Companies to escort logistical convoys in Iraq . Additionally , Instead of an eighteen month mobilization , with twelve months actually deployed to Iraq like the first tour , this mobilization would be for a total of twelve months , with approximately ten months being deployed to the combat theater . The 2 – 153rd was placed on duty in October 2007 to prepare for its deployment to Iraq while still under state control . It began a ninety day pre - mobilization training period at Chaffee Maneuver Training Center ( CMTC ) on 1 October 2007 . This allowed the unit to perform certain tasks in Arkansas and allowed unit members to be closer to their families for a longer period of time . The battalion was placed in federal service in January 2008 and trained at Camp Shelby , Mississippi until it deployed beginning in March 2008 to Iraq . Upon reaching its final destinations , the 2 – 153rd fell under the Tactical Command ( TACON ) of Regular Army units , primarily the 13th Sustainment Command ( Expeditionary ) . The 39th IBCT retained Administrative Command ( ADCON ) of all brigade elements . 2 – 153rd was stationed in Al Asad Airbase , Iraq and was organized as a Convoy Security Battalion . The battalion provided convoy security to Theater Sustainment Convoys using the Jordan Line of Communications from Trebil to Al Asad and Forward Operating Base TQ . The unit conducted seventy six , Combat Logistical Patrols , each lasting four to six days , while driving over 1 , 587 , 000 miles . 2 – 153rd experience one casualty during OIF 07 - 08 when an escort vehicle was accidentally struck while providing security at an intersection by one of the escorted vehicles . Order of Battle for Second OIF Deployment . The 2 – 153rd redeployed to Camp Shelby , Mississippi in December 2008 and demobilized . Heraldry items descriptions . Distinctive unit insignia . A silver color metal and enamel device in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned : Azure , a bend wavy between a fleur - de - lis and a giant cactus Argent ; on a chief of the last a Great Bear ' s face of the like fimbriated of the first , lips and tongue Gules . Attached below the shield is a blue motto scroll inscribed " LET ' S GO " in silver letters . Symbolism : The shield is blue for Infantry . The wavy bend , representing the Arkansas River , refers to the geographic location of the regiment . The cactus symbolizes service on the Mexican border and the fleur - de - lis service in France during World War I . The Great Bear ' s face from the shoulder sleeve insignia of the Alaskan Department symbolizes service in that area in World War II . Background : The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 153d Regiment infantry on 6 January 1930 . It was amended on 30 June 1930 . On 4 June 1951 the insignia was amended to show additional war service . Coat of Arms . Blazon : Shield : Azure , a bend wavy between a fleur - de - lis and a giant cactus Argent ; on a chief of the last a Great Bear ' s face of the like fimbriated of the first , lips and tongue Gules . Crest : That for the regiments of the Arkansas National Guard : On a wreath of the colors ( Argent and Azure ) above two sprays of apple blossoms Proper a diamond Argent charged with four mullets Azure , one in upper point and three in lower , within a bordure of the last bearing twenty - five mullets of the second . Symbolism : The shield is blue for Infantry . The wavy bend , representing the Arkansas River , refers to the geographic location of the regiment . The cactus symbolizes service on the Mexican border and the fleur - de - lis service in France during World War I . The Great Bear ' s face from the shoulder sleeve insignia of the Alaskan Department symbolizes service in that area in World War II . Background : The coat of arms was originally approved for the 153d Regiment Infantry on 6 January 1930 . It was amended on 4 June 1951 to show additional war service .