HHT 2:17th CAV

• Origins: HHT (Headquarters and Headquarters Troop), 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment traces its lineage to the 17th Cavalry, constituted in 1916, and has a storied history in US Army operations. • Vietnam War Service: The 2/17th Cavalry played a pivotal role as an air cavalry unit during the Vietnam War, conducting reconnaissance, security, and assault missions, often flying AH-1 Cobras, OH-6 Cayuse, and UH-1 Huey helicopters. • Decorations: The unit earned numerous awards for valor in Vietnam, including Presidential Unit Citations and Valorous Unit Awards, reflecting its distinguished combat performance. • "Out Front" Motto: The squadron’s motto, "Out Front," highlights its reconnaissance and security missions, often being the first to make contact with the enemy. • Gulf War Deployments: 2/17th CAV deployed as part of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during Operation Desert Storm, providing aerial reconnaissance and security in the liberation of Kuwait. • Modernization: In the post-Cold War era, HHT 2/17th CAV adapted to new technologies, transitioning from Vietnam-era helicopters to advanced platforms like the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior and later the UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache. • Global War on Terror: The squadron, including HHT, has deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan, conducting reconnaissance, security, and attack missions in support of coalition operations. • Unit Structure: As the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, HHT provides command, control, intelligence, and logistics support to the squadron, ensuring its combat readiness. • Air Assault Integration: Based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, 2/17th CAV is integral to the 101st Airborne Division’s air assault capabilities, supporting rapid deployment and maneuver operations. • Legacy and Traditions: Veterans and current soldiers of HHT 2/17th CAV maintain strong traditions of camaraderie, holding reunions and preserving the unit’s history through associations and published memoirs.