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Units 1st Battalion, 305th Regiment 2nd Battalion, 305th Regiment 1st Battalion, 346th Regiment 2nd Battalion, 346th Regiment 3rd Battalion, 346th Regiment 1387th Logistics Support Bn Facilities Camp Shelby, MS Official Homepage 3rd Brigade

3rd Brigade, 87th Division (Training Support)
[ex- 177th Armored Brigade]

In 1999, the 177th Armored Brigade was reflagged as the 3rd Brigade, 87th Division (TS) and merged with the existing 3rd Brigade, 87th Division (Exercise). The reorganization created a unique unit consisting of active-component, National Guard, civilian and drilling US Army reservists.

The Brigade provides training assistance, support, and evaluation to priority Reserve Component (RC) units and all other units within capabilities. It provides command and control of subordinate units, and synchronizes training support within area of responsibility in order to enhance individual and unit readiness to meet directed mobilization and/or wartime requirements. On order, the Brigade activates or augments Mobilization Assistance Teams (MAT) to assist installation commanders in post-mobilization training and validation of mobilized units for deployment.

In June of 1981, the 6th Battalion, 31st Infantry was formally activated at Fort Irwin as a mechanized infantry battalion. This battalion was formed from the 2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry. In October of 1981, Ist Battalion 73rd Armor later to become lst Battalion, 63rd Armor, was activated at Fort Irwin. The first rotational mission for OPFOR began in January 1982. The Army's modernization efforts of the early 1980's met its true test against OPFOR during rotation 84-9 with the arrival of 2nd Brigade, 2nd Armored Division. For the first time a rotational unit employed Ml Abrams tanks and M2 Bradley fighting machines. In April 1986, the battalions were authorized to wear the patch of the 177th Armored Brigade, as part of the 177th Armored Brigade "concept" plan. On March 1, 1987, the 177th Armored Brigade was provisionally activated. In the early 90's, visually modified T-80 tanks, the OPFOR Surrogate Vehicle (OSV), and the Aircraft Survivability Equipment Trainer (ASET IV) joined the OPFOR inventory modernizing the threat at the NTC to reflect future battlefields. The 177th Armored Brigade was reflagged as the llth Armored Cavalry Regiment on October 26, 1994. Once again Blackhorse troopers saddle up and head off to the desert, this time with the mission to continue to be the best training force in the world.