181st Infantry Brigade (United States)

Organization

World War I

During World War I, infantry brigades were purely tactical formations. Administrative and logistical functions were conducted by the division headquarters. The brigade headquarters was composed of the commander (a brigadier general), his three aides, a brigade adjutant, and eighteen enlisted men who furnished mess, transportation, and communications services. ::[[File:91_Inf_Div_DUI.jpg|25px]] Headquarters, 181st Brigade ::[[File:361st_Regiment_Distinctive_Unit_Insignia.jpg|25px]] 361st Infantry Regiment ::[[File:362nd Infantry Regiment DUI.jpg|25px]] 362nd Infantry Regiment ::[[File:91_Inf_Div_DUI.jpg|25px]] 347th Machine Gun Battalion

World War II

With the demise of the Square Division in favor of the Triangular division, the now surplus brigade headquarters were converted into either the divisional headquarters company or the division's reconnaissance troop. The 181st was selected to transform into the 91st Infantry Division's reconnaissance troop. ::[[File:91_Inf_Div_DUI.jpg|25px]] 91st Reconnaissance Troop

Organization 1963–1965

On 1 April 1963, the brigade was reactivated as a subordinate to the 63rd Infantry Division in Pasadena, California. The division and subordinate elements were inactivated on 31 December 1965 as part of the elimination of the Army Reserve divisions. ::[[File:63rd Infantry Division SSI.svg|25px]] Headquarters and Headquarters Company ::[[File:15 Inf Regt DUI.jpg|25px]] 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry ::[[File:27 INF DUI.gif|25px]] 4th Battalion, 27th Infantry

Organization 2006–2016

The 181st Infantry Brigade was reactivated at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin in December 2006. The Brigade was constituted from the 12th Readiness Brigade and the 2nd Brigade, 85th Training Division. ::[[File:181InfantryBdeDUI.jpg|25px]] Headquarters and Headquarters Company ::[[File:335 Inf Rgt DUI.jpg|25px]] 3rd Battalion, 335th Regiment (Training Support Battalion) ::[[File:338th_Regiment_Distinctive_Unit_Insignia.jpg|25px]] 1st Battalion, 338th Regiment (Training Support Battalion) ::[[File:340 Inf Rgt DUI.jpg|25px]] 1st Battalion, 340th Regiment (Training Support Battalion) ::[[File:340 Inf Rgt DUI.jpg|25px]] 3rd Battalion, 340th Regiment (Training Support Battalion) ::[[File:411th_Regiment_Distinctive_Unit_Insignia.jpg|25px]] 2nd Battalion, 411th Regiment (Logistics Support Battalion)

Organization 2026

The 181st Infantry Brigade is a Multi-Functional Training Brigade (MFTB) assigned to the 85th Support Command. Like all formations of the 85th Support Command, the brigade is not a combat formation, but instead trains Army Reserve and Army National Guard units preparing for deployment. As of January 2026, the brigade consists of a Headquarters and Headquarters Company, five active duty battalions, and five reserve battalions.

• [[File:1st Army.svg|21px]] 181st Infantry Brigade, at Fort McCoy (WI)
  • [[File:181InfantryBdeDUI.jpg|25px]] Headquarters and Headquarters Company, at Fort McCoy (WI)
  • [[File:291st_Regiment_Distinctive_Unit_Insignia.jpg|23px]] 1st Battalion, 291st Regiment (Brigade Support Battalion), at Fort McCoy (WI)
  • [[File:310th_Regiment_Distinctive_Unit_Insignia.jpg|25px]] 1st Battalion, 310th Regiment (Brigade Engineer Battalion), at Fort McCoy (WI)
  • [[File:337th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia.jpg|25px]] 1st Battalion, 337th Regiment (Brigade Support Battalion), at Fort McCoy (WI)
  • [[File:338th_Regiment_Distinctive_Unit_Insignia.jpg|25px]] 1st Battalion, 338th Regiment (Training Support), at Fort McCoy (WI)
  • [[File:340 Inf Rgt DUI.jpg|25px]] 1st Battalion, 340th Regiment (Training Support), at Fort Snelling (MN)
  • [[File:340 Inf Rgt DUI.jpg|25px]] 3rd Battalion, 340th Regiment (Brigade Engineer Battalion), at Fort McCoy (WI)
  • [[File:351st_Regiment_Distinctive_Unit_Insignia.jpg|25px]] 1st Battalion, 351st Regiment (Brigade Support Battalion), at Fort McCoy (WI)
  • [[File:361st_Regiment_Distinctive_Unit_Insignia.jpg|25px]] 2nd Battalion, 361st Regiment (Training Support), in Sioux Falls (SD)
  • [[File:383rd_Regiment_Distinctive_Unit_Insignia.jpg|25px]] 1st Battalion, 383rd Regiment (Training Support), at Fort Des Moines (IA)
  • [[File:411th_Regiment_Distinctive_Unit_Insignia.jpg|25px]] 2nd Battalion, 411th Regiment (Logistical Support), at Fort McCoy (WI)

The brigade's four training support battalions and logistical support battalion are Army Reserve formations.

History

World War I

File:Meuse-Argonne Offensive - Map.jpg File:At close grips2.jpg File:USS Orizaba (ID-1536).jpg

• Equipment:
  • M1917 Browning machine gun
  • M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle
  • M1917 Enfield
  • Brodie Helmet

File:Army Heritage Museum B.A.R..jpg File:M1917 Enfield - USA - 30-06 - Armémuseum.jpg File:91ID_M1917_Helmet.jpg

Inter War Period

File:Disembarking at Hoboken piers WW I.png File:CampKearnyPanoramaJan1918.tif

World War II

The 91st Reconnaissance Troop participated in the Rome-Arno (22 Jan 44 – 9 Sep 44), North Apennines (10 Sep 44 – 4 April 45), and Po Valley (5 Apr 45 – 8 May 45) campaigns. In July 1944, during the Arno Campaign of the Second World War, the 91st Reconnaissance Troop spearheaded Task Force Williamson under the command of Brigadier General E.S. Williamson, Assistant Division Commander for the 91st Division. The 2nd Platoon of the 91st Reconnaissance Troop and the 1st Battalion, 363rd Infantry were the first to enter Leghorn (Livorno) on its way to liberating Pisa. File:SpringOffensiveItaly1945.jpg File:IVCorpsApr45.jpg

• The Troop was composed of:
  • Officers: 6
  • Enlisted Soldiers: 149
• Equipment:
  • M8 Greyhound: 13
  • M3 Half-track: 5
  • 1/4 Ton Jeep: 24
  • M3 submachine gun: 30
  • M1 carbine: 99
  • M1 Garand: 26
  • M2 Browning: 3
  • M1919 Browning machine gun: 13
  • M9 Rocket Launcher: 5
  • M2 mortar: 9 File:M8old1.JPG File:M3 Half Track, Thunder Over Michigan 2006.jpg File:Covered Willy's jeep Wings Over Wine Country 2007.JPG File:M3-SMG.jpg File:Garandcar.jpg File:M2 Browning, Musée de l'Armée.jpg File:Browning M1919a.png File:Soldier with Bazooka M1.jpg File:M2-Mortar.jpg

Post-War

The Evolution of Divisions and Separate Brigades p309 In November 1965 the last Army Reserve combat divisions were inactivated. From January 1966 through December 2006, the unit was inactive.

Operations as a Training Brigade

File:FortMcCoyUSArmy.JPG|Fort McCoy historic gate File:US Army 51746 1st, 338th provides training, support at Fort McCoy to deploying units.jpg|1-338th training deploying soldiers from the 101st Engineer Battalion September 2009 File:CSTX 86-15-03 150815-A-ID814-102.jpg|3-340th training the 824th Quartermaster Company (Heavy Airdrop Supply) during CSTX August 2015 File:After Action Review during CSTX 86-17-03.jpg|1-337th BSB Observer/Controller-Trainer conducts an After-action review at Camp Ripley during CSTX 86-17-03

Operation Allies Welcome

Campaign participation credit

Decorations

Shoulder sleeve insignia

• Description: On a background equally divided horizontally white and red, inches high and inches wide at base and inches wide at top, a black block letter "A", inches high, 2 inches wide at base and inches wide at top, all members 7/16 inch wide, all enclosed within a 1/8 inch Army Green border.
• Symbolism:

1. The red and white of the background are the colors used in flags for Armies.
2. The letter "A" represents "Army" and is also the first letter of the alphabet suggesting "First Army."

• Background:

1. A black letter "A" was approved as the authorized insignia by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Force, on 16 November 1918 and approved by the War Department on 5 May 1922.
2. The background was added on 17 November 1950.

Distinctive unit insignia

• Symbolism: The diagonal separation of colors denotes a line not crossed. The clevis (key) symbolizes the unit's long history and knowledge as being a key to winning the battle. The crossed rifle and saber allude to the Brigade's mission during World War II as the 91st Reconnaissance Cavalry Company. The motto translates to "To Win War and Peace."
• Background: The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 14 August 2007.

References

• The Brigade, A History by John J. McGrath from the Combat Studies Institute Press, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

References

1. [http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Inf/181InfantryBrigade.htm The Institute of Heraldry: 181st Infantry Brigade] {{Webarchive. link. (20 June 2008 , The Institute of Heraldry. Retrieved 14 June 2008.)
2. [http://www.hood.army.mil/div_west/181INBDE.html1st Army, Division West Organization]{{dead link. (April 2025)
3. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080621043726/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/div/085d2bde.htm Lineage and Honors 2d Brigade, 85th Division]
4. [https://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/download/csipubs/Brigade-AHistory.pdf army.mil] {{Webarchive. link. (12 December 2018 The Brigade A History p33)
5. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140301211444/http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/060/60-14-1/cmhPub_60-14-1.pdf army.mil] Maneuver and Firepower p55
6. [http://www.newrivernotes.com/topical_books_1918_worldwar1_storyof_91st_division.htm World War I organization of the 91st Division]
7. File:600 days' service; a history of the 361st infantry regiment of the United States Army (IA 600daysservicehi00burt).pdf
8. "History of the 347th machine gun battalion". Horwinski Company.
9. [https://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/download/csipubs/Brigade-AHistory.pdf army.mil] {{Webarchive. link. (12 December 2018 The Brigade A History p47)
10. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100608031251/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/div/181infbde.htm army.mil] Lineage and Honors Certificate
11. "Our units". 85th Support Command.
12. "Wisconsin units". US Army Reserve.
13. "Minnesota units". US Army Reserve.
14. "South Dakota units". US Army Reserve.
15. "Iowa units". US Army Reserve.
16. [http://www.first.army.mil/1aEast/181inbde/ 181st Infantry Brigade Homepage]{{dead link. (April 2025)
17. [https://web.archive.org/web/20141129142135/http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/060/60-14-1/index.html Maneuver and Firepower p55]
18. Bill, Thayer. (2016). "John B. McDonald". penelope.uchicago.edu.
19. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100608031251/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/div/181infbde.htm army.mil] Lineage & Honors Certificate
20. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120425183149/http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/download/csipubs/OrderOfBattle/OrderofBattle1.pdf The US Army Order of Battle from 1919–1941 p340]
21. World War II Order of Battle, Shelby Stanton, Galahad Books 1984
22. https://www.ausa.org/sites/default/files/SR-1984-Regiments-of-the-US-Army.pdf Regiments of the US Army p10
23. [https://web.archive.org/web/20141129142135/http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/060/60-14-1/index.html army.mil] Maneuver and Firepower: The Evolution of Divisions and Separate Brigades p329
24. [https://www.army.mil/standto/archive/2018/03/19/ army.mil] Combat Support Training Exercise
25. [https://www.usar.army.mil/News/Tag/95141/combat-support-training-exercise/ army.mil] Army Reserve News Articles for Combat Support Training Exercises
26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK5Jgk80894 Fort McCoy: Combat Support Training Exercise
27. [https://web.archive.org/web/20170308054940/http://www.usar.army.mil/Featured/Training-Exercises/Cold-Steel/ army.mil] Operation Cold Steel home page
28. [https://www.usar.army.mil/News/Display/Article/1443400/staged-equipment-for-operation-cold-steel-ii-at-fort-mccoy/ army.mil] Staged equipment for Operation Cold Steel II at Fort McCoy
29. [https://www.army.mil/article/254323/operation_allies_welcome_concludes_at_fort_mccoy_last_afghans_depart_post#:~:text=As%20of%208%20a.m.%20Feb.%2015%2C%20the%20last,who%20assisted%20the%20United%20States%E2%80%99%20interests%20in%20Afghanistan./ army.mil] Operation Allies Welcome concludes at Fort McCoy
30. U.S. Army Center of Military History (CMH). "Listing of the Campaigns of the U.S. Army Displayed on the Army Flag {{pipe}} U.S. Army Center of Military History (CMH)". history.army.mil.
31. "War Department General Order #24 Listing Campaigns".
32. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150402113522/http://www.first.army.mil/(S(khcx1x45z035js45pzhbo255))/documents%5Cpdf%5CFirstArmyASUA08-11PO332-07.pdf Permanent Order 332-07]
33. "First Army insignia page at the Institute of Heraldry".
34. "Brigade DUI".