The 1st Battalion, 108th Armor mobilized for Desert Storm, but were not deployed in time to be able to participate in the war. After certifying at the National Training Center as combat-ready, they demobilized. The 1st Battalion, 108th Armor deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina for Stabilization Force Rotation 9 to provide support operations for Task Force Eagle. The SFOR9 rotation was scheduled from April to October 2001.
The 1st Battalion, 108th Armor mobilized as a component of the 48th Brigade Combat Team in 2004 for combat operations in support of the Global War on Terrorism. It was augmented with an additional Infantry company from Alabama and organized as Task Force Roughrider. In May 2005 the unit began deploying to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and experienced some of the fiercest combat actions in the campaign. During the first half of the brigade's deployment to Iraq, the 1-108th spent much of its time conducting cordon and search operations, reconnaissance missions, and raids in Iraq's Triangle of Death region southwest of Baghdad. The unit's focus shifted during the second half of the deployment to a theater security mission primarily consisting of convoy escort and civilian military operations. On 20 April 2006, at Ft. Stewart, members of the 1-108th returned home after a year of combat operations in Iraq. TF Roughrider suffered seven fatalities while deployed to Iraq:
SGT Paul A. Saylor
SPC Joshua P. Dingler
SGT Thomas J. Strickland
SGT Michael J. Stokely
SSG George R. Draughn, Jr.
SFC Robert Hollar, Jr.
1SG Aaron D. Jagger
As a part of the United States Army's ongoing transformation to a lighter, more modular force the 1st Battalion, 108th Armor was re-designated as the 1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry in 2007. The unit traded in its M1 Abrams tanks and its M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles for up-armored HMMWVs. Most of the squadron's tank crewmen have reclassified to 19D cavalry scouts or 11B infantrymen. In December 2007, the Georgia National Guard's 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was alerted that it will be deployed to Afghanistanin the summer of 2009 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In January 2009, the 1-108th began training for the expected year-long deployment. The unit was subsequently deployed to Afghanistan in April as Task Force Roughrider. While deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the 1-108th participated in training the Afghan Security Forces while conducting Counter Insurgency Operations throughout the country. In March 2010 the unit redeployed from Afghanistan and demobilized at Fort Stewart, GA. TF Roughrider suffered six fatalities while deployed to Afghanistan:
MAJ Kevin M. Jenrette
SGT Jeffrey W. Jordan
SFC John C. Beale
1SG John D. Blair
SGT Isaac L. Johnson, Jr.
SGT Raymundo P. Morales
Leadership & Organization
Organization
Lineage
Constituted 19 June 1959 in the Georgia Army National Guard as the 108th Armor, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System Organized 1 July 1959 from the following units to consist of the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron and the 2d, 3d, and 4th Medium Tank Battalions, elements of the 48th Armored Division: 48th Reconnaissance Battalion as the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron 163d Tank Battalion as the 2d Medium Tank Battalion 162d Tank Battalion as the 3d Medium Tank Battalion 190th Tank Battalion as the 4th Medium Tank Battalion Reorganized 1 May 1962 to consist of the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron and the 2d, 3d, and 4th Medium Tank Battalions, elements of the 48th Armored Division, and the 5th Medium Tank Battalion Reorganized 16 April 1963 to consist of the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, and 5th Battalions, elements of the 48th Armored Division Reorganized 1 January 1968 to consist of the 1st Battalion, an element of the 30th Infantry Division Reorganized 1 December 1973 to consist of the 1st Battalion, an element of the 48th Infantry Brigade Withdrawn 1 June 1989 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System with headquarters at Calhoun Ordered into active federal service 30 November 1990 at home stations; released from active federal service 27 March 1991 and reverted to state control Ordered into active federal service 6 December 2004 – 3 January 2005 at home stations; released from active federal service 1 September – 1 October 2006 and reverted to state control Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 108th Armored Regiment Consolidated 1 September 2007 with the 108th Cavalry Regiment and consolidated unit designated as the 108th Cavalry Regiment, to consist of the 1st Squadron, an element of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the 2d Squadron, an element of the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Reorganized 1 September 2008 in the Georgia and Louisiana Army National Guard to consist of the 1st Squadron, an element of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the 2d Squadron, an element of the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and the 3d Squadron ANNEX Constituted 2 September 1995 in the Georgia and Louisiana Army National Guard as the 108th Cavalry, a parent regiment under the United States Army Regimental System; concurrently organized from existing elements to consist of Troop A, an element of the 256th Infantry Brigade, and Troop E, an element of the 48th Infantry Brigade Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 108th Cavalry Regiment Reorganized 1 September 2006 to consist of the 2d Squadron, an element of the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and Troop E, an element of the 48th Infantry Brigade
Honors
Campaign Participation Credit
The squadron has received participation credit for the following campaigns: War on Terrorism
