1/175th Infantry: My Experience with the 1st Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment

In today’s post, I’d like to discuss my experience in my old unit, the 1^st Battalion, 175^th Infantry Regiment.  I served as the Company Commander with the 1/175^th Infantry from 2008 to 2010.  My unit was F Company, 128^th Brigade Support Battalion.  Initially, my company was part of the 729^th Brigade Support Battalion (BSB) and then the 128^th BSB.  Early into my command, our unit was part of transformation and we were switched to the 1/175th Infantry.

My Company’s mission was to provide logistical support to the infantry battalion.  Within about six months of taking command, I started working directly for the 1/175^th Infantry Regiment Battalion Commander.  I was very happy for the switch.

No, I was not an Infantryman but I was very proud to be affiliated with this regiment.  Of all my time in the military, I was “most proud” to serve in this battalion.  And I don’t say that lightly, because I’ve served in some great units such as The Old Guard and the 4^th Infantry Division.

The 175^th Infantry Regiment dates back to 1775.  It is one of the oldest regiments in the Army and is one of only 19 ARNG units credited with participation in the War of 1812.  In fact, the regiment has participated in just about every war/conflict to include the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, the Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, and the Global War on Terrorism.  The only war they missed was the Vietnam War.

In the past, the regiment was a proud member of the 29^th Infantry Division (Blue and Gray).  During recent transformations, the regiment is now part of 2^nd Brigade, 28^th Infantry Division (Bloody Bucket).  The headquarters is in Dundalk, Maryland.   It also has subordinate units in Pikesville, Elkton and Frederick, Maryland.

To the best of my knowledge, there is only one battalion currently active (the 1^st battalion).  I’m not sure about the status of the regiment’s other battalions or the history of those battalions.

What I enjoyed most about the unit was the pride that the members had in the organization.  You don’t always see that in today’s Army.  Members were extremely proud to be part of an organization with such a strong and proud history.  They wore the unit crest and patch with great pride.  Sure, there were a few slackers, but most of the people were competent, squared away and extremely professional.

Another thing I really enjoyed was that the unit was always training in the field, practicing and mastering their technical and tactical skills.  In any given training year, we would spend 8-10 drill weekends in the field.  And we would have a tough and challenging Annual Training to hone our skills.  The training I received in this unit would compare with any Active Duty MTOE unit.

Although I never got the opportunity to the wear the crossed rifles myself (I’m not an Infantryman), I would be proud to so.  I’ll always cherish my experiences and memories with the 1/175^th Infantry Regiment.  My only regret is not being able to stay in the in the battalion and continue my service with them.

If you’ve ever served in the 1/175th Infantry Regiment, I would love to hear your personal story.  Please tell us when you served with them, with what unit and what your job was.  Just leave a comment to this post to share your thoughts.  I look forward to hearing from you.

If you would also want to share your favorite unit you have ever served in, we would love to hear that too.

Sincerely,








Chuck Holmes
Former Army Major (resigned)
Publisher, Part-Time-Commander.com
Email: mrchuckholmes@gmail.com

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