Understanding the Modern 25th Infantry Division
by Bruce Powell (2024)
also see What is a Regiment?
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As the current men and women (2024) of Dakota Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Infantry Division expand their efforts to connect their unit with ours, from the Vietnam War, we need to react back to them for their honoring of the Centaurs. It is truly rewarding to see and meet these young Troopers who are proud of their heritage and anxious to learn more from us while we are still around. We can honor them back by spending a little time understanding how the current Infantry Division has been reorganized, where they fit in, and their mission and structure.
Our Vietnam Infantry Brigade has become an Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT). Their are three of them in the current 25th Infantry Division. Ours is the 3rd Brigade, the "Broncos", where the 3/4 Cav Squadron resides. They also have other Brigades in the Division like the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade that can be used to bring more strength, where needed to a deployed Infantry Brigade.
Wikipedia defines the concept: Each infantry brigade is equipped and capable of air assault operations. Also, most units typically maneuver in HMMWVs when deployed and operate as "motorized infantry" to facilitate speed of movement. The Infantry BCT can conduct entry operations by ground, air, and amphibious means. IBCT
To me that means the 25th Inf Div Commander can take any of his redesigned Brigades and employ them anywhere in the world, like a mini Divsion, quickly and efficiently. The soldiers assigned to a BCT will stay at their assignment for three years; this is intended to bolster readiness and improve unit cohesion. These Brigades are constantly training and maintaining their readiness for such a mission. Sounds like a good solution for our volatile world. Don't stare too long at the Division structure diagram below. It takes a current very high ranking soldier to understand how it all works.
John Strohecker says the Army uses brigades as its main operational unit because they are more flexible and modular than divisions. Brigades can be tailored to specific mission requirements and can operate independently or as part of a larger division or corps. This allows the Army to deploy forces more efficiently and effectively in response to a wide range of operational scenarios. Additionally, brigades are often better suited for the types of missions and conflicts that the Army has been involved in since the end of the Cold War.
What then is a Combat Aviation Brigade, CAB? It is a powerful aviation force that can be used to increase the aviation needs of a deployed Infantry Brigade Combat Team. A CAB typically has about 2,600 Soldiers including 350 aviators with an unique assortment of UH-60A/L/M Blackhawks, CH-47D Chinooks, UH-72A Lakotas, and AH-64A/D Apaches.