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3rd Brigade Special Troop Battalion
"Vigilance and Honor"

In mid-2004, the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) began transformation to the US Army's new modular force structure. One of the most noticable aspects of the reorganization was the changes in relationships between Division level support units and the division's line brigades. Habitually attached engineer, military intelligence, military police, and signal assets were inactivated and reflagged as elements of new Brigade Special Troops Battalions, organic to the similar reorganized and redesignated Brigade Combat Teams. The 317th Engineer Battalion, 103rd Military Intelligence Battalion, 3rd Military Police Company, and the 123rd Signal Battalion were all inactivated. HHC, 317th Engineer Battalion was reflagged as HHC, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion. The Military Police Platoon in the HHC came from personnel previously assigned to the 3rd Military Police Company. C Company, 123rd Signal Battalion was reflagged as A Company, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion and a company of the 103rd Military Police Battalion was reflagged as Company B, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion.

In September 2005, the Heraldry Institute approved a crest designed by the Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion. The blue stripe on a white field symbolizes the Battalion's relationship with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized). The Buffalo recalls the direct line back to the 317th Engineer Battalion, while the red compass and rose shows the Battalion's world-wide deployment capability. The yellow lightning bolt symbolizes the military intelligence and signal companies, and their role as the nucleus of the Battalion. The phrase "Vigilance and Honor" is a reflection of the spirit of the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion Soldiers.

The Headquarters and Headquarters Company remained largely intact after reorganization, and was enhanced by the addition of a Military Police platoon (from personnel from the inactivated 3rd Military Police Company) and an infantry section, as well as a provisional platoon of combat engineers remaining from the inactivation of Company A, 317th Engineer Battalion (Combat). Like its sister companies, the HHC skillyfully executed the rapid train-up and deployment to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom III in 2005, where they embraced a variety of new missions, to include operating an internment facility, conducting Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Command Security Escorts, and supervising more than 250 million dollars in projects and reconstruction.

Perhaps no company felt the impact of the modular transformation more than the 3rd Brigade Combat Team's Signal Company. In May 2004, Company C, 123rd Signal Battalion (station at Fort Steward, Georgia), split into two elements. The company leadership and most of the 2 platoons formed the nucleus of the newly designated Company A, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion. Additionally, they were joined by a platoon-sized element of Signal Soldiers stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia. Despite the physical seperation, they were able to quickly bond as a team, convery from MSE to JNN systems and deploy together in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III in 2005, where they provided world-class communication to the Brigade Combat Team. Upon redeployment from Iraq, much of the company moved from Fort Stewart to Fort Benning, completing the reorganization process.

In June 2004, a handful of Soldiers activated the 3rd Infantry Division's newest Military Intelligence Company. With little more than a guidon and mandate to form and build a team, the Soliders of Company B, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion had one of the toughest missions that the reorganization required. Yet in just a little over 6 months, Company B was ready to deploy in 2005 for Operation Iraqi Freedom III, thanks to quality Soldiers brought in from across the entire Army. In less time than many thought possible, Company B built a tough and cohesive unit that provided Intelligence Analysis, Chemical Reconnaissance, and Human-Signal Intelligence collection capabilities.

In January 2005 the 3rd Brigade Combat Team deployed to Iraq again as part of Task Force Liberty headed by the 42nd Infantry Division, and subsequently attached to elements of the 101st Airborne Division. The 3rd Brigade Combat Team, including the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, returned from Iraq in January 2006.

In 2007 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion returned to Iraq with other elements of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team on another tour of duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) remained in Iraq into 2008.