THE 4TH CAVALRY TODAY

The deep drawdown of the Army beginning in the middle 1980s and continuing after Desert Strom, combined with the burgeoning peace keeping commitments led to the decision to halt the implementation of the unit replacement system. Unfortunately by the time the decision was made the Army had completed a massive reassignment of regiments, which had often terminated long standing historical associations between regiments and divisions. The inactivation of the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry after serving with the 25th Division for thirty years is a case in point. By 1996 the Army, recognizing the damage such moves had made on espirit-de-corps reassigned many units back to their traditional parent  organizations. Thus the 3rd Squadron, which had served with the 3rd Infantry Division since 1989, to include a tour in Bosnia, was reassigned back to the 25th Division.

The post Desert Storm drawdown did not leave the 4th Cavalry unscathed. The Army inactivated the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) in February 1996 with the concurrent inactivation of the 2nd Squadron, 4th Cavalry. Also with the inactivation of the 197th Infantry Brigade earlier, Troop D, 4th Cavalry was also inactivated.

Currently the 4th Cavalry has two of its elements on active duty. The 1st Squadron, 4the Cavalry remains assigned to the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) stationed in Germany. The Squadron is organized as an armored cavalry reconnaissance squadron and has also served in Bosnia. The 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry has returned to the 25th Division as an air cavalry reconnaissance squadron. The regimental headquarters is collocated with the 1st Squadron.

Additionally the U.S. Army sponsors and maintains Troop B, 4th  U.S. Cavalry (Memorial) at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Organized in 1973, Troop B appears at military and civilian ceremonies and functions throughout the southwest to promote the heritage and traditions of the U.S. Army during the Indian Wars. The memorial troop is equipped and mounted identically to Troop B, 4th Cavalry in 1886, when it participated in the Geronimo Campaign under the command of Captain Henry W. Lawton. Active duty soldiers and Department of the Army civilians wear authentic 1886 cavalry uniforms and are armed with the cavalry weapons of that era and the horses are saddled and bridled with equally authentic equipment.

Soldiers who have served in the 4th Cavalry can take great pride in having contributed to the record of one of the finest regiments in the U.S. Army. Today's active duty 4th Cavalrymen and the volunteers of Troop B (Memorial) continue to add to and perpetuate the magnificent history of the 4th Cavalry Regiment.