ing histories on the active rolls. Most soldiers, however, did not understand the rationale, and unit morale suffered.[1]
As the Army reorganized and shuffled divisions around the world, it adopted the Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS) for infantry, artillery, cavalry, and armor. During the ATFA and PENTANA studies a debate arose regarding unit designations. Traditionally regiments were the basic branch element, especially for the infantry, and their long histories had produced deep traditions considered essential to unit esprit de corps. The new divisional structure, replacing infantry regiments with anonymous battle groups, threatened to destroy all these traditions. Secretary of the Army Wilber M. Brucker settled the question on 24 January 1957 when he approved the Combat Arms Regimental System. Although regiments would no longer exist as tactical units except for armored cavalry, certain distinguished regiments were to become "parent" organizations for the combat arms. Under the new concept, the Department of the Army assumed control of regimental headquarters, the repository for a unit's lineage, honors, and traditions, and used elements of the regiments to organize battle groups, battalions, squadrons, companies, batteries, and troops, which shared in the history and honors of their parent units.[2]
When infantry regiments were eliminated in divisions as tactical units, they were also eliminated as nondivisional organizations. The Army replaced the nondivisional regimental combat teams with separate, flexible combined arms "brigades," shifting the concept of a brigade. Instead of being composed of two or more regiments or battalions of the same arm or service, the concept encompassed a combined arms unit equivalent to a reinforced regiment. Initially only two brigades were formed. First was the 2d Infantry Brigade, activated at Fort Devens on 14 February 1958 to replace the 4th Regimental Combat Team. No tables of organization existed for the unit, which at the time consisted of a headquarters, two battle groups, one artillery battalion, a reconnaissance troop, two engineer and two armor companies, and trains. The last element was an adaptation of the trains of an infantry division and consisted of a headquarters element and administration, ordnance, quartermaster, and medical companies. A miniature division, the 2d Brigade had 4,188 officers and enlisted men commanded by a brigadier general. To support the Infantry School at Fort Benning, the Third United States Army organized the 1st Infantry Brigade on 25 July 1958. It contained two battle groups; one artillery battalion (one Honest John, one 155-mm. howitzer, and two 105-mm. howitzer batteries); armor, transportation, and engineer companies; and signal and chemical platoons, but no trains. A colonel commanded the 3,600 officers and enlisted men assigned to the unit.[3]
Evaluating ROCID and ROCAD
After completing the pentomic reorganization in the Regular Army, the Continental Army Command conducted further tests of the new organizations. In
- ↑ DF, Office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (ODCSOPS) to Sec of the General Staff and other addresses, sub: Reorganization of Divisions, 2 May 57, OPS OT OR 1, Pentomic Divisions, Division General file, Ltr, TAG to CinC, U.S. Army, Pacific (USARPAC), and other addresses, 22 Aug 57, sub: Transfer of the 24th Infantry Division and Reorganization of the 1st Cavalry Division, AGAO-O (M) 322 (16 Aug 57) DCSPER, Ltr, TAG to CinC, USARPAC, and other addresses, 29 Aug 57, same subject, AGAO-O (M) 322 (27 Aug 57) DCSPER, Ltr, TAG to CinC, U.S, Army Europe (USAREUR), and other addresses, 8 Feb 57, sub: Reorganization of the 1st Infantry Division, AGAO-O (M) 322 (5 Feb 57) DCSPER, Ltr, TAG to CinC, USAREUR, 21 Jun 57, sub: Reorganization of the 2d Armored Division, AGAO-O (M) 322 (13 Jun 57) DCSPER, Ltr, TAG to CGs, CONARC, and Third U.S, Army, 17 Mar 58, sub; Change in Status of the 2d and 10th Infantry Divisions, AGAO-O (M) (5 Feb 58) DCSPER, Lir, TAG to CinC, USAREUR, and other addresses, 30 Aug 57, sub: Reorganization of the 3d Armored Division, AGAO-O (M) 322 (26 Aug 57) DCSPER, Ltr, TAG to CinC, USAREUR, 26 Dec 57, sub; Change in Status of Certain Units, 26 Dec 57, AGAO-O (M) 322 (13 Dec 57) DCSPER, Ltr, TAG to CinC, USAREUR, and other addresses, 12 Mar 57, sub: Reorganization of the 4th Armored Division, AGAO-O (M) 322 (6 Feb 57) DCSPER, Ltr, TAG to CG, CONARC, and other addresses, 27 Mar 57, sub: Reorganization of the 4th Infantry Division, AGAO-O (M) 322 (25 Mar 57) DCSPER, Ltr, TAG to CG, U.S. Army Far East, and other addresses, 31 May 57. sub: Reorganization of the 7th Infantry Division, AGAO-O (M) 322 (24 May 57) DCSPER, Ltr, TAG to CinC, USAREUR, 16 Jul 57, sub: Reorganization of the 8th Infantry Division, AGAO-O (M) 322 (10 Jul 57) DCSPER, Ltr, TAG to CinC, USAREUR, and other addresses, 13 Nov 57, sub: Reorganization of the 9th Infantry Division, AGAO-O (M) 322 9th Inf Div (8 Oct 57) DCSPER, Ltr, CinC, USAREUR, and other addresses, 14 Jun 47, sub: Reorganization of the 10th Infantry Division, AGAO-O (M) 322 (31 May 57) DCSPER, Ltr, TAG to CinC, USAREUR, 20 Feb 57, sub: Reorganization of the 11th Airborne Division, AGAO-O (M) 322 (19 Feb 57) DCSPER, Draft letter, undated, sub: Organization of the 24th Infantry Division, Ltr, TAG to CinC, USAREUR, 1 Feb 57, sub; Reorganization of the 1st Armored Division, AGAO-O (M) 322 (5 Feb 57) DCSPER, Lu, TAG to CGs, CONARC and Fourth U.S. Army, 5 Dec 57, sub: Change in Status of Certain Units, AGAQ-O (M) 322 (13 Nov 57) DCSPER, and Ltr, CGs, CONARC and Sixth U.S. Army, 27 May 57, sub; Inactivation of the 5th Infantry Division, AGAO-O (M) 322 (24 May 57) DCSPER, all AG Reference files; and Historical Data Cards, Divisions, DAMH-HSO.
- ↑ Memo, See of Army for See of Defense, 31 Jan 57, sub: Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS), and Fact Sheet, undated, sub: Combat Arms Regimental System, both CARS files, and News Release, Historic Traditions of Regiments to be Preserved in Pentomic Army, 7 Feb 57, Division General file, all DAMH-HSO.
- ↑ CONARC, “Summary of Major Events and Problems, 1 Jul 56–30 Jun 57," vol. 4, Doctrine and Requirements Division, G3 Section, 1 Jan–30 Jun 57, pp. 18–19; Information Paper: Separate Combined Arms Brigades in the Reserve Components, 30 Apr 58, Brigade General file, Ltr, TAG lo CGs, CONARC and First U.S. Army, 12 Feb 58, sub; Organization of the 2d Infantry Brigade, AGAO-O (M) 322 (5 Feb 58) DCSPER, and Ltr, TAG to CG, Third Amy, 8 Jul 58, sub; Change in Status of 1st Infantry Brigade and other units, AGAO-O (M) 322 (11 Jun 58), DCSPER, all AG Reference files; and Historical Data Cards, all DAMH-HSO.
