4th Squadron 7th Cavalry
"Garry Owen" / "Out Front!"
On order the 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry transitions to War and performs reconnaissance and security operations to allow 2nd Infantry Division to execute OPLAN 5027. 4th Squadron 7th Cavalry is the Army's most forwardly deployed heavy Divisional Cavalry Squadron, based at Camp Garry Owen, South Korea. Because of the diversity of this squadron, the squadron is not located on one installation. There are 804 personnel assigned to this unit including Korean augmentees.
4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry is responsible for accomplishing reconnaissance and security missions and engaging in offensive, defensive and retrograde operations as a part of the 2d Infantry Division. The 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry is the "eyes and ears" of the 2nd Infantry Division. Like the cavalry of the early days, who forged ahead on horseback to find the enemy, protect the flanks of less mobile units, or engage the enemy if needed, the modern armored cavalry remains the most maneuverable and flexible asset in the Division.
It is tasked to be combat ready at all times, to be prepared to counter North Korean aggression, and to ensure the ROK Army is also "Second to None". The Squadron conducts a very active training program to remain prepared to accomplish these missions.
4-7 Cavalry has a mission requirement to deploy within 30 minutes of an alert. The squadron designates three levels of readiness - Squadron Readiness Force (SRF).
The squadron designates a ground troop and an air troop at a time to be Squadron Ready Force One (SRF1). These units are poised to execute VIGILANT WARRIOR or any other no-notice operation. Personnel in the SRF1 GCT are prohibited from taking Warrior Passes and all other leaves and passes are at the discretion of the troop commander. These two units must remain alcohol free until they are no longer SRF1. The core of SRF1 is the Initial Ready Package (IRP). The IRP must be at 100% manning, may not take leave or pass, but may leave post for collective training as approved by the SCO. It consists of the following:
- IRP (Ground) - Seven M3A2, Two M1064A3, One M923, and One M113A3 (ambulance)
- IRP (Air) - Four OH-58D(I) with Eight Pilots, Four Crew Chiefs, and One NCO
- IRP (Avn Supt) - One NCOIC, Two mechanics, Two shops soldiers, and Three III/V.
- IRP (C4I) - Either the SCO, the SXO, or the S3
- Either the HHT Commander, XO, or 1SG
- An OIC or NCOIC from S1, S2, S3, S4, SIGO, SMO, MED, and FSE
The squadron's mission essential task list includes transition to war, conduct screen, conduct area and zone reconnaissance, conduct movement to contact, perform combat service support operations, conduct tactical movement, conduct anit-terrorism, force protection, and civil disturbance operations.
The 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry's missions consits of:
QUICK SABER: On order, the Squadron is prepared to launch armed aerial reconnaissance teams to provide the Division Commander accurate, real-time situational reports allowing him to make well-informed decisions and react to contact. One Air Cavalry Troop is on "the Pistol" 24 hours a day, seven days a week and able to launch in support of these missions within one hour of notification.
VIGILANT WARRIOR: On order, the Squadron provides forward security and reconnaissance elements in conjunction with the National Command Authority in order to support the multinational peacekeeping force in the evacuation of the Joint Security Area. One Ground Cavalry Troop is locked down on Camp Garryowen for a seven day cycle in an increased readiness rate able to deploy within 30 minutes (365 days a year).
COUNTERFIRE: On order, the Squadron provides aerial reconnaissance and ground security forces that support the 2nd Infantry Division's go-to-war OPLAN. The responsibility of ensuring theater-level assets are emplaced, secured, and retain their freedom of maneuver lies squarely on the 4th Squadron 7th Cavalry Regiment.
COUNTERATTACK: The Squadron is prepared to reconsolidate, reorganize, and conduct reconnaissance and security operations in order to support the 2nd Infantry Division. The squadron leads the division in during counterattack operations.
The 7th Regiment, known as the "Garry Owen Regiment," was constituted by act of Congress and War Department General Order 56 on 1 August 1866 at Fort Riley, Kansas under command of Colonel Andrew Jackson Smith. Its ranks were filled with a hard-bitten crew of trappers, frontiersmen, and Civil War veterans.
SRF 2 is available to conduct individual and collective training. Force backfills SRF 3 on details and ranges. Force must maintain 50% assigned strength on the installation except when training to ensure the SRF is able to execute its scatter plan.
The SRF 3 is available to conduct all details/ranges . Force must maintain 50% assigned strength on the installation except when training to ensure the SRF is able to execute its scatter plan. Normally, the ground troop designated SRF 1 will also be designated SRF 3.
The Regiment received its baptism by fire in 1867, as a part of an expedition against the Cheyenne. On 27 November 1868, the 7th Cavalry swept down on Black Kettle's sleeping village of Cheyenne, and took them completely by surprise. During the Indian Campaigns (1866-1891), the 7th Cavalry acquired the reputation as the most experienced and capable mounted regiment in the U.S. Army. Under such leaders as Brevet Major General George A. Custer, the regiment fought innumerable battles against the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Nez Perce Indians while setting a pattern for fighting men of courage and devotion to duty. On the command "Forward" and the playing of Custer's favorite tune "Garry Owen," the troops stood ready for battle at all times.
On 25 June 1876, the regiment engaged in the infamous Battle of Little Big Horn in Montana. Despite the outcome of this battle, the engagement distinguished the 7th Cavalry Regiment in setting a pattern for fighting men in courage and devotion to duty. This battle gave the regiment one of six campaign streamers gained in the courage of the long and bloody Indian Wars. Fourteen troopers received the Congressional Medal of Honor during this period.
In the years that followed, the regiment was part of the Army of Pacification in Cuba and from 1905 to 1907, it helped combat the Phillipine Insurrection in Luzon. After fighting in these locations, the 7th Cavalry joined General John J. Pershing in the Mexican Punitive Expedition against the legendary Pancho Villa in 1916.
Serving with the 1st Cavalry in World War II, the 7th Cavalry garnered campaign streamers for New Guinea, Bismark Archipelago, Leyte, and Luzon campaigns and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. After the Leyte Campaign, forty-one Silver Stars were earned by the men of the 7th Cavalry out of 92 given to the entire Division.
The Regiment was chosen to escort General Douglas MacArthur into Tokyo. The Regiment served five years in Japan as part of the occupation force. Less than a month after the outbreak of hostilities in Korea, the 7th Cavalry drove 106 miles through enemy lines in twenty-four hours (the longest one day advance in military history) in order to join the 7th Infantry Division in Osan. It continued to fight with the 7th Infantry Division throughout the Korean War. The 7th Cavalry fought valiantly in the battles of the Naktong River, Seoul, the Chosen Resovoir, the Yalu, and "Operation Commando." The 7th Cavalry holds eight campaign stars for service in Korea.
After its service in Korea, the 7th Cavalry returned to Japan with the 1st Cavalry Division to assist in the mission of protecting the island of Hokkaido from attack. In August of 1957, the regiment moved out of Japan in conjunction with the reduction of ground forces in Japan. Up until 1965, when the 4-7 Cavalry joined the 2d Infantry Division, the 7th Cavalry served honorably in Japan and Vietnam. The unit fought in Southwest Asia where it served with distinction. Thereafter, its new mission in Korea was to become the eyes and ears for the 2d Infantry Division along the Western Corridor of the Korean Peninsula. Its organization has changed repeatedly between numbers of air troops and ground troops, but its mission remained the same.
In 1988, the colors of the 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry was inactivated and the unit reflagged as the 5th Squadron, 17th Cavalry at Camp Garry Owen, Korea. The 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry was reactivated on 5 April 1995 and the colors of the 5th Squadron, 17th Cavalry were inactivated.
The 7th Cavalry proudly displays forty-one campaign streamers. Additionally, it has received six Presidential Unit Citations, the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, the Chryssoun Ariston Andrias Greek Bravery Citation, and two Korean Presidential Unit Citations.
FY02 was a productive year for 4-7 CAV. Responsible to train three major weapons systems plus indirect fire assets consisting of over 800 troopers and 55 KATUSAs, the squadron established a training strategy that integrates Air-Ground mission requirements and accounts for the tyrannies of Korea (Turbulence, Distance, Dispersion and Congestion). On an annual basis, the squadron executes two semi-annual training cycles centered around combined arms gunnery and maneuver training densities. In FY02, its Kiowas flew 4089 hours while its M3 Scouts and M1A1 Tanks trained 970 miles throughout the Korean countryside. 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry's warfighting readiness remains constant throughout the year in order to maintain continuous readiness and the ability to accomplish our missions.
During FY02, 4-7 Cavalry executed 15 no notice alerts and several real world missions to include: flying security for the President of the United States during his visit to Panmunjeom; reconnaissance of Camp Red Cloud during violent Korean demonstrations to give 2ID commanders real time information; and the Search and Rescue for a downed Aircraft.
Prior to Ulchi-Focus Lens 2003 the cavalry scouts of Troop B, 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, carried out a mock wartime mission at the KTC Aug. 9, 2003.
