3̂ ^ Squadron,

17**̂ Cavalry Regiment

Inactivation

Ceremony

Sequence of Events ?

Introduction

Invocation

Adjutant's Call

Presentation of the Colors

National Anthem

Squadron History

Casing of the Colors

Reviewing Ojficer Remarks

Squadron Commander Remarks

The Dog Face Soldier Song

The Army Song

S K Command Group W^l And Staff f2i£jt

LTC Geoffrey Whittenberg

CSM Antoine Williams CW4 Jim Carrico

Staff

XO/S3: MAJ Joshua Teitge

Si: CPT James Watson Sz: iLT Zachary Moss

S4: iLT Steve Lemler S6: iLT Jason Klein

Headauarters and Headquarters Troop CPT Michael Nguyen

iSG John Langley

Alpha Troop CPT Timothy Hybart SFC Noah Wellman

Bravo Troop CPT John Mayer

SFC Billy Hardwick

Charlie Troop CW2 Andy Wilson

SFC Luis Malave

Delta Troop CPT Caleb Holt

iSG Jose Lopezolivera Echo Troop

CPT Lesley Peters SFC Lachom Madison

LTC Geoffrey Whittenberg Outgoing

Commander 3-17 CAV

L T C Geoffrey A. Whittenberg graduated from Oklahoma State University's ROTC program in 1997 as a Distinguished Militaiy Graduate, with a degree in Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (Forcsti-y), and received his commission as an Aviation Officer. He attended the Aviation Officer Basic Course and graduated flight school in 1998 as an OH-58D rated Aviator

His first assignment affer flight school was in the 1st Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Dium, NY, where he sewed as a Platoon Lxader, deploying to Bosnia in support of Operation Joint Forge and subsequently as the Battalion Assistant S-3. Following the Aviation Advanced Course, LTC Whittenberg served in the 3rd Squadron, 7th United States Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infaiitiy Division (Mechanized), Fort Stewart, GA, where he sei-ved as the Squadron S1, deploying to Kuwait and Iraq in support of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom, and took coinmand of E Troop, 3-7th Cavalry at Baghdad International Aiiport, subsequently redeploying the troop to Fort Stewart, GA. Upon completion ol'command, LTC Whittenberg sei-ved in the Directorate of Training and Doctrine at the United States Amiy Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker, A L as a doctrine dcvcloper/wriler followed by command at HHC, 1 st Battalion, 13lh Aviation Regiment. Following command, LTC Whittenberg attended the Univereity of Oklahoma for Advanced Civil Schooling earning a Master's Degree in Business Administration followed by Intemiediate Level Education (ILE) at the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS.

Upon graduation from I L E , LTC Whittenberg returned to the 3rd Infantry Division where he served as the Executive Officer for 3rd Squadron, 17th United States Cavaliy Regiment, Hunter Anny Airfield (HAAF), GA and deployed to Jalalabad, AfghanistSrT-where he assumed duties as the Squadron Operations Officer (S3). Following redeployment to HAAF, he assumed duties as the Brigade Executive Olllcer, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade. LTC Whittenberg was then assigned to Human Resources Command as the Aviation Branch, LTC Assignment's Officer, Fort Knox, K Y . LTC Whittenberg has served as the Commander, of 3''' Squadron, 17"' Cavahy Regiment since October 2013.

LTC Whittenberg is a graduate of the Initial Entry Rotary Wing Course, Aviation Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, and the Coinmand and General StalTCourse.

His awards are commensurate with his time in service. He has earned the Combat Action Badge, Senior Aviator Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.

L T C Whittenberg is married to the fonner Laurie Ready of St. Lx)uis, MO, and they have two children; Mason (11) and Anna (6).

CSM Antoine Williams Outgoing ^glj

CSM 3-17 CAV fef/ Command Sergeant Major Antoine D. Williams is a native of Columbia, South Carolina. He entered the Army on 11 June 1991 and attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and Advanced Individual training at Fort Rucker, Alabama for MOS 15Q Air Traffic Control Specialist.

Command Sergeant Major Williams' assignment histoiy includes: C Company 3-58th Avn Regt Wiesbaden, Gemiany, HHC United States Anny Garrison, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, D Company 58th Avn Regt, Camp Coiner, Korea, B Company 1-11th Avn Regt and HHD 1-1 Ith Avn Regt, Fort Rucker, Alabama, Platoon Sergeant/First Sergeant, D Company I-58th Avn Regt redesignated as F Company 2-3 Avn Regt, Hunter Anny Airfield, Georgia, First Sergeant, B Company l - l l th Avn Regt, Brigade Operations Sergeant Major, HHC 1 st Aviation Brigade, Fort Rucker, Alabama, and Battalion Operations NCOIC, Task Force ODIN-A, Fort Hood, Texas. First Sergeant, B Company, 1st Battalion, 145th Avn Regt, and Command Sergeant Major, 1-145th Avn Regt, 1 st Aviation Brigade, Fort Rucker, Alabama. He has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Command Sergeant Major Williams holds a Bachelors of Professional Studies in Business and Management from Excelsior College, and is a graduate of the Warrior Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Couree, Senior Leaders Couree, First Sergeants Course, United States Anny Sergeants Major Course, United States Anny Safety Course, Power Generation Course, Unit Prevention leadere Course, Anny Basic Instructor Course, Equal Opportunity Representative Course, CSM Development Course, BN Pre-Command Coui-se, Senior Enlisted Joint PME Course, Master Resilience Training Course, and he has earned the Battle StalT Course Additional Skill Identifier.

His military awards are commensurate with his time in service. He has earned the Driver's badge, and Master Aircrew Member Badge. Command Sergeant Major Williams is a member of the prestigious Sergeant Audie Murphy Club. He is a recipient of the Honorable Order of St. Michael (Bronze award).

Command Sergeant Major Williams is mairied to the fonner Tomika N. Davis of Kinston, North Carolina, and together they have three daughters, two sons, and one Grandson; Amari, Marina, Keshera, Dcnian, Antoine Jr., and Aiden.

Unit History ¥

The 17th Cavalry Regiment was constituted on 1 July 1916 at Fort Bliss, Texas. The Regiment remained in the United States during World War 1 and was inactivated in 1921. The Regiment was reactivated and designated as the 7th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized) and participated in the breakout from Nonnandy in 1944. After World War I I , the Squadron was designated as the 17th Annored Cavalry Group and inactivated in 1959.

The 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry was activated on 15 February 1963, as part of the I Ith Air Assault Division (Test), taking part in the Army's validation of air assault and air mobility tactics and operations. The Squadron deployed to Vietnam in 1967, and was assigned to the 12th Aviation Group. The Squadron was cited for action during the initial stages of the Tet Offensive in 1968, and again in 1970, for its perfonnance during the invasion of Cambodia. In April 1972, the Squadron redeployed to the United States and was inactivated on 19 June 1973, at Fort Lewis, Washington.

The Squadron was reactivated on 2 June 1988, as the Cavalry Squadron of the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) at Griffis AFB. Following a move to Fort Drum's Wheeler-Sack Anny Airfield, the Squadron deployed to Florida as part of the relief efforts following Hunncane Andrew in 1992. A few months later, the Squadron deployed to Eastern Africa as part of Operation "Restore Hope", conducting reconnaissance and security operations to assist in restoring order to famine stricken Somalia. The Squadron also supported Operation "Uphold Democracy" in Haiti. ^

The 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, first with the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, and second with 3rd Infantry Division as part of the presidential surge. On 22 October 2008, the Squadron was assigned to 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division and moved to Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. Since then, 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry has deployed twice in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The first deployment was to Regional Command East from October 2009 to November of 2010. The second deployment was to Regional Command South from December of 2012 to August of 2013. The unit lias continuously provided unwavering support to the ground force commander.

Unit History

Campaign Credit Participation

World War II

Northern France Rhincland

Ardennes-Alsace Central Europe

Vietnam

Defense Counteroffensive

Countcroffensive, Phase II Counteroffensive, Phase III

Tet Counteroffensive Counteroffensive, Phase IV Counteroffensive, Phase V Counteroffensive, Phase V I

Tet 69/Counteroffensive Summer-Fall 1969

' ' Winter-Spring 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive Counteroffensive, Phase V I l

Consolidation I Consolidation II

Ceasc-Fire

ODeration Iraq Freedom OIF III OIF V

Operation Enduring Freedom OEFX

OEFXII I

Cavalry Traditions

"In the 19"' Century, no branch of military service proved more appealing to recruits, or more inspiring to public imagination, than did the Cavalry. Soldiers on horseback seemed bigger than life and bom for the charge. Foam-flecked mounts, thundering hoofs, flashing sabers, the bugle's stirring blast-this was the ethos of the Cavalryman, and was an arena for his deeds of glory. This image of the horse Soldier had its birth in ancient times, its confirmation in medieval chivalry, and an infusion of glory in the wars of Napoleon I . Americans who flocked to the colors in 1861, regular West Pointer and Volunteer Militiamen alike, were familiar from youth with the exploits of Napoleonic Cavaliers...a certain non-regulation elegance of unifonn was deemed a fitting accompaniment to the Cavalryman's implicit dash and swagger."

The Stetson: The most distinctive unifonn item worn by Air Cavalrymen in Vietnam was

the Cav hat. This tradition is believed to have been originated in early 1964 by LTC John B. Stockton, Commander of 3/17 Cavalry, at Fort Benning, Georgia. The hat was adopted in an effort to increase esprit de corps in the new Air Cavalry Squadron and was meant to emulate the look of the 1876 pattern campaign hat worn by Cavalry Troopers long ago. Once units deployed to Vietnam, the custom slowly spread to other Air Cavalry units and, by the cessation of hostilities, virtually all Air Cav (and some ground Cav) units had adopted the Cav hat.

The Spurs: The Cavalry has been an elite group of fighters since the ancient beginnings

of organized combat. From Genghis Khan to Polish Winged Hussars to the present day U.S. Cavalry Troopers, Cavalrymen continue to distinguish themselves with their technically advanced mounts. What was once accomplished with sabers and bows on horseback is now accomplished using helicopters and Hellfire missiles.

Once assigned to a Cavalry unit, Troopers had to undergo rigorous training and professional development before being considered for the awarding of spurs; earning spurs was not optional. When worn the spurs indicate that the Trooper has demonstrated Cavalry and leadership skills greater than those expected of the common Soldier. Although no longer a necessity, spurs remain part of the Cavalry tradition. In order to earn one's spurs, a Trooper is typically asked to complete a series of grueling tasks, both physically and mentally demanding, to prove his/her worthiness.

P 'ARMMif lRJ

Fiddler's Green

Halfway down the trail to Hell, In a shady meadow green

Are the Souls of all dead Troopers camped, Near a good old-time canteen. And this eternal resting place Is known as Fiddler's Green. ^

Marching past, straight through to Hell The Infantry are seen.

Accompanied by the Engineers, Artillery and Marines,

For none but the shades of Cavalrymen Dismount at Fiddler's Green.

Though some go curving down the trail To seek a warmer scene.

No Trooper ever gets to Hell Ere he's emptied his canteen.

And so rides back to drink again W i t h friends at Fiddler's Green.

And so when man and horse go down Beneath a saber keen.

Or in a roaring charge of fierce melee You stop a bullet clean,

And the hostiles come to get your scalp. Just empty your canteen.

And put your pistol to your head And go to Fiddler's Green.

The Dog Face Soldier

I Wouldn't Give A Bean To Be A Fancy Pants Marine

I'd Rather Be A Dog Face Soldier Like I Am

I Wouldn't Trade My Old-O D's For Al l The Navy's Dungarees

For I'm The Walking Pride Of Uncle Sam

On Army Posters That I Read It Says "Be Al l That You Can" So They're Tearing Me Down

To Build Me Over Again

I'm Just A Dog Face Soldier W i t h A Rifle On My Shoulder

And I Eat Raw Meat For Breakfast E'V'RY Day

So Feed Me Ammunition Keep Me In The Third Division

Your Dog Face Soldier's A-Okay

The Army Song

March along, sing our song, with the Army of the free. Count the brave, count the true, who have fought to

victory. We're the Army and proud of our name! We're the Army and proudly proclaim:

First to fight for the right. And to build the Nation's might. And the Army goes rolling along.

Proud of all we have done. Fighting t i l l the battle's won.

And the Army goes rolling along.

Then it's hi ! hi! hey! The Army's on its way.

Count off the cadence loud and strong; For where'er we go,

You wil l always know That the Army goes rolling along.