75th Cavalry Regiment

Activation

1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry ("Widowmakers"), an RSTA, was formed under the U.S. Army's transformation in September 2004. The squadron was formed under 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team "Strike", 101st Airborne Division in place of 3-502nd Infantry. The first commander of the squadron was LTC Alfonso J. Ahuja with CSM Scott C. Schroeder. The Squadron's lineage dates back to World War II, as the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion which was attached to the 502nd Infantry Regiment. The motto of 1-75 CAV (Widowmakers) is ONE ROUND!

Deployment and training

The 1-75 Cavalry deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in the autumn of 2005. The squadron remained with 2BCT, 101st Airborne Division based out of Camp Striker. The squadron, along with the rest of 2BCT, patrolled Southwest Baghdad in an area known as the "triangle of death". 1-75 CAV is noted for locating and destroying multiple weapons caches as well as detaining several ranking members of Al-Qaeda in Iraq. In January 2006 the Squadron was moved to protect a deadly Main Supply Route (MSR) leading into Baghdad.

While controlling this supply route, the squadron successfully decreased improvised explosive device and small arms attacks by over 80%, thus enabling the safe transport of supplies and materials into central and northern Iraq. During the time spent on MSR security, the squadron suffered two casualties.

1-75 CAV returned to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in October 2007 and redeployed to Fort Campbell in late November 2008. 1-75 CAV deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in June 2010 and returned in April 2011. It deployed to Iraq as part of Task Force Strike in summer 2016 and returned the following year.

1-75 CAV partook in US Army AFRICOM's annual exercise African Lion in March 2019, with HHT, A and B Troops deploying to Morocco and C Troop deploying to Tunisia for the exercise, returning the following April.

1-75 CAV, along with the rest of the Strike Brigade and the 101st Airborne Division Headquarters, received orders to deploy to eastern Europe in support of Operation Assure, Deter and Reinforce in May 2022 to replace elements of 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division that deployed as the Immediate Response Force earlier that year in response to Russian aggression in Europe. 1-75 CAV was garrisoned in Rzeszow, Poland until redeploying with the rest of 2nd Brigade to Fort Campbell in March 2022, being replaced by 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division.

Deactivation

In accordance with Army force structure goals, 1-75 CAV deactivated on June 20th, 2024. Charlie Troop deactivated several months before the rest of the squadron in March 2024, with its personnel being transferred to activate the 2BCT Multi-Functional Reconnaissance Company (MFRC).

Organization

1-75 CAV was organized into 5 troops; a headquarters and headquarters troop; two mounted reconnaissance troops; and one dismounted reconnaissance troop. A forward support company from the 526th Brigade Support Battalion was attached to the squadron to provide logistical and maintenance support. The squadron was manned primarily by the 19 series MOS (Armor/Cavalry) enlisted men and officers. 11 series MOS (Infantry) enlisted men and officers man the mortar sections and dismounted recon troop.

Headquarters and Headquarters Troop ("Hellcat Troop"); the squadron's headquarters providing administrative support, intelligence, command and control, and medical support to the squadron.

Alpha Troop ("Apache Troop"); a mounted cavalry reconnaissance troop. It had three mounted recon platoons, a mortar section, and a headquarters section.

Bravo Troop ("Bone Troop"); a mounted cavalry reconnaissance troop. It had three mounted recon platoons, a mortar section, and a headquarters section.

Charlie Company ("Chaos Company"); a dismounted reconnaissance company. It had two dismounted recon platoons, a mortar section, a sniper section, and a headquarters section. C Company deactivated in March 2024.

Delta Company ("Dealer Troop"); an attached forward support company from the 526th Brigade Support Battalion (BSB).

References

• William K. Emerson, Encyclopedia of United States Army Insignia and Uniforms (page 51).

References

1. (12 October 2012). "PERMANENT ORDER 299-16".
2. (11 August 2016). "Department of the Army announces 101st Airborne Division deployment".
3. "The end and beginning of an era: African Lion 19".
4. (December 2025). "Pentagon Announces Deployments to Replace Forces in Europe".
5. "Roughly 3,000 US troops to move to NATO countries near Ukraine amid rising tensions with Russia".
6. (7 March 2023). "Army begins deployment of units to Europe".
7. "The 2024 Army Force Structure Transformation Initiative". Congressional Research Service.
8. "Facebook".
9. "Facebook".
10. (2015). "FM 3-96 (FM 3-90.6) Brigade Combat Team".