3:509th Airborne

• Origins in World War II: The lineage of the 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment traces back to the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion, one of the first U.S. Army airborne units formed and the first to see combat in Europe during World War II. • Operation Torch: The 509th made the first U.S. combat parachute assault in North Africa during Operation Torch in November 1942, jumping into Algeria. • "Geronimo!" Battle Cry: The battalion adopted the yell "Geronimo!" as their battle cry, a tradition dating back to early U.S. airborne units. • Redesignated in Alaska: In the late 1970s, the 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment (Airborne) was activated at Fort Richardson, Alaska, as part of the Army's effort to reestablish an airborne presence in the region. • Arctic Warriors: The 3/509th is part of the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, earning the nickname "Spartan Brigade" and specializing in airborne and arctic warfare. • Operation Just Cause: Elements of the 3/509th participated in Operation Just Cause, the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama to depose Manuel Noriega. • Global War on Terror Deployments: Since 2001, the battalion has deployed multiple times to Afghanistan and Iraq, conducting airborne operations, counterinsurgency, and security missions. • Distinctive Unit Insignia: The unit’s crest features a winged arrowhead, symbolizing airborne assault, and a red background, representing courage and sacrifice. • Motto - "Geronimo": The battalion’s official motto is "Geronimo," honoring their pioneering airborne heritage. • Intense Arctic Training: The 3/509th regularly conducts extreme cold weather and arctic survival training, including airborne jumps onto frozen drop zones north of the Arctic Circle.