Who, What, Where is Dakota Troop ?- 2024
by Bruce Powell
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Dakota Troop is the descedant of the Centaurs in Vietnam and called D Troop, 3/4 Cav, 3IBCT, 25th Inf Division.
They honor the Centaurs by adapting their logo, unit call sign and maintain Centaur historic information and memorbilia in their unit Orderly Room. They carry our Guidon and Battle Streamers.
How it all evolved can be very confusing: activation, deactivated, reassigned, different mission, different equipment, etc, and all that continuous shuffling that the Army gurus have put us through over the decades. Most of our Troopers just don't have the patience, time or interest to track it all down. They just want to know that the unit that they served with, or are currently serving with, has a rich and honorable history, and a current important mission.
see Dakota Facebook site
Locating D Troop in the New 25th Inf Div - 2024
see Squadron Structure and D Troop Structure
25th Infantry Division Structure: 3IBCT is highlighted
Currently, the U.S. Army is structured around the brigade combat team. In this program, divisions that previously had not deployed individual brigades due to a lack of integral support have now been restructured. The 1st Armored Division, 25th Infantry Division, etc. now can deploy one or more BCTs anywhere in the world. These BCTs are intended to be able to stand on their own, like a division in miniature. The soldiers assigned to a BCT will stay at their assignment for three years; this is intended to bolster readiness and improve unit cohesion.
3/4 Cav Squadron Structure:
The squadron has an HHT, A, B, and C Troop with a Forward Support Company (D Troop) attached. A and B Troop are HMMWV motorized with 3 platoons filled with 19D Cav Scouts. C Troop is a dismounted troop comprised of 2 scout platoons and a sniper section of 11B Infantrymen. A and B Troop have a large crew served weapons capability and have 2x120mm mortars organic to each troop. C Troop will be organized like a mini-Ranger company with a high density of Ranger, Pathfinder, and Air Assault qualified Soldiers
D Troop (Dakota Troop) Structure:
Still searching for a structure chart
Dakota Troop owns the 3/4 CAV Raider motorpool, with a CW2 Motorpool Officer and a Maintenance Platoon leader who oversees the upkeep of the motorpool.
The Maintenance platoon has four assigned generator mechanics. We are responsible for the maintenance of all Squadron generators.
The cooks are assigned to each forward support company in platoon elements of roughly 10 Soldiers and their field equipment (containerized kitchen, assault kitchen, water buffalo, containerized refrigerator, etc). These Soldiers fall under D Troop for administrative and training purposes. However, when we are not conducting a field training event or deployed, these Soldiers work daily at the Warrior Restaurant (Dining Facility), which offers three meals a day to all Soldiers within the Brigade.
We do have GP Medium tents for housing accommodations, we also use similar style tents for command posts during major training events.
There is not an assigned aviation element that is tasked to move motorpool elements. We typically deploy our assets via barge or vessel movement, and occasionally use aviation assets depending on the movement requirement. If we need to utilize aviation assets, we submit an Air Movement Request (AMR), and any available aviation element is tasked to support us through the Aviation Support Battalion.
Thanks to 1LT Megan Magoon for these answers