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Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description: A silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a hurt wavy of six voided similarly or superimposed by a silver winged spur.
             Symbolism: The winged spur is emblematic of cavalry and speed. The blue ribbon alludes to service with the American Expeditionary Forces.
             Background: The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 28 June 1923 . It was amended to revise the description and symbolism on 15 September 1987 .

Coat of Arms.
             Blazon:
                     Shield: Per bend Tenné and Vert, in sinister chief a demi-unicorn and in dexter base a demi-horse both rampant Argent.
                       Crest: On a wreath of the colors Argent and Tenné superimposed on a hurt wavy of six voided similarly Or a winged spur Argent.
                        Motto: FORWARD.
             Symbolism:
                      Shield: The shield is taken from the coat of arms of the parent organizations: The First, Third, Sixth, Eighth and Fourteenth Cavalry Regiments. The orange is representative of the uniform facings of the First Cavalry (the old First Dragoons), and the green alludes to the uniform facings of the Third Cavalry (the old Mounted Rifles). The demi-unicorn is taken from the shield of the Sixth Cavalry and the demi-horse from the Eighth Cavalry. The diagonal line is symbolic of the Fourteenth Cavalry.
                      Crest: The winged spur is emblematic of cavalry and speed. The blue ribbon alludes to service with the American Expeditionary Forces.
                      Background: The coat of arms was approved on 19 June 1923 . It was amended to change the symbolism on 23 June 1960 . The coat of arms was amended to revise the symbolism on 15 September 1987.

The 17th Cavalry Regiment was organized at Fort Bliss, TX, on 1 July 1916. During World War I, the Regiment served on the Mexican Border. In 1918, it was combined with two other cavalry regiments, the1st and the 15th, to form the 3rd Cavalry Brigade. The unit planned to join the A.E.F. in France, however the Armistice was signed before the brigade could be deployed. The original regiment was inactivated at the Presidio of Monterey, California, in September 1921.

In 1943, the Regiment became part of Headquarters, 17th Armored Group at Fort Knox, KY. The 17th Armored Group landed in France on 5 August, 1944, and fought its way through Northern France, the Ardennes, and the Rhineland into central Europe. Following V.E. Day, the 17thth Armored Group moved to Ghent, Belgium, where it was inactivated on 30 April 1946.

Another Ancestor or the Squadron, the 57th Cavalry Recon (Mech) Troop was activated at Fort McIntosh, TX, on 12 May 1944. This Troop spent most of its life on the inactive rolls of the Army and underwent its final inactivation at Fort Knox, KY, on 2 June 1948. On 10 August 1950,, it was redesignated as the 101st Airborne Reconnaissance Company and was activated 2 weeks later at camp Breckenridge, KY. On 25 April 1957, the unit was redesignated Troop B (Reconnaissance) (Airborne) 17th Cavalry, and continued as such until 1964. On 3Feb 1964, the unit was consolidated with elements of the command and control battalion of the 101st Airborne to form the 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry.

In July 1965, A Troop, along with supporting personnel from Headquarters Troop, departed Fort Campbell as part of the 1st Brigade Task Force, 101st Airborne Division, for the Republic of Vietnam. In December 1967, the remainder of the squadron deployed to Vietnam, and operated for 4 years in South Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. During its service in the Republic of Vietnam, the Squadron had three members receive the nation's highest award, the Congressional Medal of Honor. SP4 Michael Fitzmaurice, SP4 Joseph G. Lapointe, and SGT Robert Patterson.

In January 1972, the Squadron redeployed with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) to Fort Campbell, KY.

From  August to September 1990 the Squadron deployed for Operation Desert Shield serving as a deterrent force until initiation of Operation Desert Storm on 17 Jan 1991. On 25 Feb 1991, after three days of reconnaissance missions across the Iraqi border, the Squadron screened the Division's front on its historic air assault deep into Iraqi territory. The Squadron served as one of the northern-most  deployed elements of the United States Army.

In February 2003, the Squadron deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Squadron led the Division's aviation forces across the border securing the Division's initial objectives. Soon thereafter, the Squadron became the Aviation force of choice for the Division Commander for the urban fight during the seizures of An Najaf, Karbala, Al Hillah, Southern Baghdad, Mosul, and terrorist training camps in central Iraq. It was in Mosul that the Squadron spent the remainder of its deployment providing reconnaissance and security to Division elements in the city.

In September 2005, the Squadron once again deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Squadron provided reconnaissance, security, and close combat attacks from FOB McKenzie to elements of TF Liberty for the Iraqi National Referendum. In November 2005, the Squadron moved to FOB Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq and assumed operational control of a platoon of UH-60s in support of 1st BCT, Task Force Band of Brothers. The Squadron also supported TF Freedom in Mosul, as well as 159th Combat Aviation Brigade with one Air Cavalry Troop at LSA Anaconda as part of an AH-64 BN Task Force. In March 2006, the Squadron assumed operational control of C/1-327th Infantry "Cold Steel" and was assigned AO Saber within the 1st BCT Battle Space in support of combat operations for TF Bastogne.

The Squadron redeployed to Ft. Campbell in August 2006 for refit and retraining and deployed in January 2009 on a 15 month tour to Jalalabad, Afghanistan  in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, with Banshee Troop providing security and reconnaissance in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

More 17th Cavalry Regiment History

Active units

1-17th Cavalry, 82nd Airborne Division - Moved to Fort Campbell and reflagged as 7-17 Cav
2-17th Cavalry, 101st Abn Div (ASSLT), Vietnam
3-17th Cavalry, 10th Mountain Division (LI)
3-17th Cavalry, Vietnam

7-17th Cavalry "Ruthless Riders"


Inactive units

4-17th Cavalry, 18th Airborne Corps
5-17th Cavalry, 2nd Infantry Division
6-17th Cavalry