ABOUT THE DESIGN

The 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom III in February of 2005. The Regiment is serving from South Baghdad province to Western Ninewa Province in Northwestern Iraq until March of 2006. The design represents the Regiment and its time here in Iraq. The background is a picture of the ancient Ottoman Castle at the center of the city Tal Afar, Iraq. In September, 2005, the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment conducted 'Operation Restoring Rights' to defeat a terrorist stronghold in the city of Tal Afar. Much of the fighting occurred in the neighborhood from which this picture of the castle was taken. The coins in the sky represent all of the major units under 3d ACR during its time in Iraq. The units organic to the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment have the coins that are red and white (from left to right: Tiger Squdaron, Sabre Squadron, Thunder Squadron, Longknife Squadron, and Support Squadron. On the far left is the 2nd Battalion of the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment coin (which served with the Regiment from September – December 2005); on the far right is the coin for the Special Forces Task Force that served alongside the Regiment. The three helicopter's in the sky are the Regiment's Air Cavalry Platforms. The blackhawk (on the left) serves as the transport aircraft, the Apache Longbow (on the right) serves as the attack aircraft, and the Kiowa Warrior (in the center) serves as the Reconnaissance aircraft. The vehicles under the castle are the major ground combat systems of the Regiment: the M1A2 Abrams main battle tank (left), the M3A2 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle (Center), and the Pallidan M109 155mm Howitzer (right) . At the bottom of the picture is a picture of a section of troopers of the Regiment at a desert sunset typical of Iraq. The Regiment of Mounted Riflemen has a rich heritage of quality dismounted scouts, know as “Brave Rifles.” General Winfield Scott addressed the Regiment after they had stormed the citadel at Chapultapec in September of 1847, saying “Brave Rifles! Veterans! You have been baptized in fire and blood and have come out steel.” These same words ring true today for the soldiers who are fighting on today’s battlefields in Iraq. Whether this group of eleven soldiers is a dismounted Scout Section, support soldiers, a squad of paratroopers, or a special forces operational detachment, they represent the close bond that will remain between the soldiers who rode with the Brave Rifles and made history in Operation Iraqi Freedom III.