1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division
"The Devil's Brigade"
The 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division (M), is one of the Army's two oldest divisional brigades. On order, the 1st Brigade Combat Team deploys with or without equipment, builds combat power, conducts military operations in support of the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized), and redeploys.
Two U.S. Army Europe brigades, known as round out brigades, are not located in Europe. The 3rd Brigades of the First Armor Division and the 1st Brigade First Infantry Division are required to bring the two U.S. Army Europe divisions to full strength. Each brigade consists of a 1x2 brigade set (one armor battalion and two mechanized infantry battalions) and are considered round out brigades for U.S. Army Europe. However, the actual authorization and equipment configuration for the pre-positioned brigade sets in central region is two-2x1 brigade sets (two brigades each consisting of two armor battalions and one mechanized infantry battalion).
It was organized on 24 May 1917 as the 1st Infantry Brigade under the newly formed First Expeditionary force, which soon evolved to become the 1st Infantry Division (the Big Red One). The Brigade fought valiantly during a host of campaigns during World War I: Lorraine, Picardy, Montdidier-Noyon, St. Mihiel, Aisne-Marne, and Meuse-Argonne. After garrison duty in the U.S. during the 1920s and the 1930s it was de-activated in 1939, when the Army discontinued its brigade-based divisional structure.
The Brigade was reactivated in July 1958 at Fort Benning, Georgia, as the 1st Infantry Brigade. In 1964, it rejoined the 1st Infantry Division, this time at Fort Riley, Kansas, and was redesignated as the 1st Brigade ("Devil Brigade") of the Big Red One. The 1st brigade deployed with the Division to the Republic of Vietnam in 1965, subsequently fighting with great distinction and honors in ten campaigns encompassing 24 battles. The Brigade returned to Fort Riley in 1970.
In 1990, it deployed with the Big Red One to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Leading the breach of Iraqi defenses on 24 February 1991, the Brigade actively fought and destroyed the enemy in the three campaigns involving the Defense of Saudi Arabia and the Liberation of Kuwait. In recognition of their contributions, each of the Brigade's battalions received the Valorous Unit Citation.
The 1st and 2nd Brigades of the Big Red One are the only two divisional brigades in the U.S. Army authorized their own distinctive unit insignia. Since 1999 the 1st Brigade has grown into a dual-based, stand-alone structure consisting of six battalions and three company-sized units. It is subordinate to the Commanding General of Fort Riley, Kansas, for training, readiness, and deployability. Under his direction, the Brigade prepares, among other things, for the eventuality of possible future operations with its parent division, now headquartered in Wuerzburg, Germany. The Brigade's presence at Fort Riley continues, in reduced fashion, the long-standing relationship of the Big Red One to Fort Riley.
