1ST CAVALRY DIVISION 2ND BRIGADE GUIDONS

UNITED STATES ARMY

2nd ARMORED BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM, 1st CAVALRY DIVISION (UEx)
FIRST UEx REORGANIZATION • 2014-16

The 2014 reorganization of the US Army's armored brigade combat team (ABCT) added a third combined arms battalion (CAB), reconfigured the FA battalion from two eight-gun batteries to three six-gun batteries and replaced the special troops battalion with a brigade engineer battalion (BEB). The brigade support battalion acquired two additional forward support companies, one for the third CAB and one for the BEB. As previously, the CABs were affiliated with either armor, cavalry or infantry regiments. The battalion's organization color and the guidon of its headquarters company reflected the regimental identity, while the other companies had branch-oriented guidons. Companies of cavalry-affiliated CABs all used Cavalry branch guidons. The headquarters company and companies A and B of the brigade engineer battalion (BEB) used Engineer branch guidons; companies C and D used Signal and Military Intelligence branch guidons respectively. The headquarters company and forward support companies of the brigade support battalion (BSB) had buff guidons with scarlet letters and numerals but no branch insignia; the other three companies had branch-oriented guidons. The headquarters company of the brigade used a guidon of the standard pattern for brigades of divisions.

The Organizational Flag of the brigade was always carried or displayed with the National Color. Both were made of heavyweight rayon banner cloth, 3 feet at the hoist by 4 feet on the fly, with 2 1/2-inch yellow fringe.

As reorganized the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team ("Black Jack") of the 1st Cavalry Division had three cavalry-affiliated CABs. Note that the 2-82 FA has only four battery elements. Instead of the traditional organization (HQ battery, three firing batteries, service battery) FA battalions are now configured with an HQ battery and three firing batteries only. Each battery has six howitzers for a battalion total of eighteen guns. The functions of the service battery have been assumed by the forward support company of the BSB dedicated to the FA battalion (Company F). Note that cavalry units organized as CABs use the titles "battalion" and "company," while those organized as reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition (RSTA) units use the titles "squadron" and "troop."