3:11th ACR

• Origins: The 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (3/11th ACR) traces its lineage to the formation of the 11th Cavalry Regiment in 1901, which was originally a horse cavalry unit. • Nickname: The 11th ACR is famously known as the "Blackhorse Regiment," and 3rd Squadron is often referred to as "Thunder Squadron." • Vietnam War Service: 3/11th ACR served with distinction in Vietnam from 1966 to 1972, conducting armored reconnaissance and security operations, and earning multiple unit citations. • Firebase Thunderbolt: 3/11th ACR established Firebase Thunderbolt in Vietnam, which became a critical base of operations during several major campaigns. • Battle of An Loc: Elements of 3/11th ACR participated in the famous Battle of An Loc in 1972, helping to break the North Vietnamese siege of the city. • Cold War Duty: During the Cold War, 3/11th ACR was stationed in the Fulda Gap, Germany, tasked with defending NATO’s frontier against possible Warsaw Pact aggression. • “The Eyes and Ears”: As a cavalry unit, 3/11th ACR was known as “the eyes and ears” of larger formations, specializing in reconnaissance, surveillance, and security missions. • Operation Iraqi Freedom: 3/11th ACR deployed to Iraq and played a key role in stability and counterinsurgency operations between 2003 and 2005, especially in the Al Anbar province. • Modernization: Over the decades, 3/11th ACR has transitioned from horseback, to tanks and armored vehicles, and now operates the advanced M1 Abrams tank and other modern platforms. • National Training Center: Today, 3/11th ACR is based at Fort Irwin, California, serving as the “Opposing Force” (OPFOR) at the National Training Center, preparing U.S. and allied troops for combat.