The New Jersey Cavalry and Armor Association
In 2017, the 117th Cavalry Association and 1-102nd Cavalry Squadron Association members formally opened their doors to Cavalry and Armor Soldiers, and their friends & associates throughout New Jersey. Veterans, Army Reservists, Active Duty, National Guardsmen in the Armor and Cavalry career field, or who served in such units and select members of the civilian community are all welcome to participate.
The 102nd and 117th Cavalry organizations grew from the 102nd Cavalry Regiment whose history goes back to 1890 and the creation of what came to be known as the First New Jersey Cavalry and eventually, the Essex Troop. The 102nd has made some very unique accomplishments and gives New Jerseyans a rich legacy they can be proud of.
The official Lineage and Honors of the 102nd, according to they Army’s Center for Military History goes back to 1913, even though we trace the regiment’s origins to 1890. The squadron was first organized on May 29th, 1913 as part of the New Jersey National Guard and was named the 1st Cavalry Squadron with its Headquarters at Newark.
The first time the squadron was mustered into Federal service was June 21st, 1916 at Sea Girt; the squadron mustered out of Federal service was October 21st, that same year and back in on July 28th1917, drafted on August 5th and then reorganized into what the Army needed in Europe. This practice remains common today.
The practice of reorganizing an element to meet the needs of the Combatant Commander illustrates the need to adapt to the changing tides of war and the specific requirements the situation demands. From 2004 to 2023 every deployment that the 44th Infantry Brigade Combat team (the 1-102nd’s higher headquarters) has seen included modifications to its organization that ran the gamut from minor to radical.
Things were no different in World War I. On September 15th 1917, the Squadron was broken up and its elements reorganized and redesignated:
Following its service in World War I the Squadron demobilized May 30th, 1919 at Camp Dix, New Jersey and subsequently at Camp Dodge Iowa and was ultimately reorganized in 1919-1920 as the 1st Cavalry Squadron in the New Jersey National Guard and federally recognized 29 September 1920 in Newark and reorganized and redesignated August 17th, 1921 as the 102d Cavalry.
In June 1937 the 102nd was assigned to the 21st Cavalry Division until 1940 and inducted into Federal service 6 January 1941 at home stations. In November 1943, 2d Squadron reorganized, and was redesignated as the 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized (1st Squadron – see ANNEX 1 [remainder of 102d Cavalry–hereafter separate lineages]). The 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized, inactivated 25 November 1945 in Germany, Reorganized and Federally recognized 20 November 1946 at West Orange as the 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron.
It was then reorganized and redesignated 1 November 1949 as the 2d Battalion, 102d Armored Cavalry. Consolidated 1 February 1968 with the 6th Battalion, 50th Armor (see ANNEX 2), and consolidated unit reorganized and redesignated as the 102d Armor, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System, to consist of the 1st and 2d Battalions.
Consolidated 1 December 1971 with the 50th Armor (see ANNEXES 3, 4, and 5) and consolidated unit designated as the 102d Armor to consist of the 1st and 2d Battalions and the 3d, 4th, and 5th Battalions, elements of the 50th Armored Division. Reorganized 1 July 1975 to consist of the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 5th Battalions, elements of the 50th Armored Division, withdrawn 1 June 1989 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System.
Reorganized 1 September 1991 to consist of the 2d and 3d Battalions, elements of the 50th Armored Division, reorganized 1 September 1993 to consist of the 2d and 3d Battalions, elements of the 42d Infantry Division, reorganized 1 September 1994 to consist of the 2d Battalion, an element of the 42d Infantry Division.
Ordered into active Federal service 12 – 27 April 2004 at home stations for service with Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO) and released from active Federal service 11 – 26 April 2005 and reverted to state control.
The squadron was redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 102d Armored Regiment and was ordered into active Federal service 16 June 2008 at home stations for service in Iraq in Bucca (A Troop), Ashraf (B Troop) and with Combined Special Operations Task Force (C Troop) out of Balad. The squadron consolidated 1 September 2008 with the 117th Cavalry Regiment (see ANNEX 1) and consolidated unit designated as the 102d Cavalry Regiment, to consist of the 1st Squadron, an element of the 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Released from active Federal service 20 July 2009 and reverted to state control.
It is important to note that C/5-117th Cavalry and D/250th Brigade Support Battalion mobilized in late 2006 for almost 2 years, serving in Iraq that culminated in the 2007 surge. C/1-102nd Squadron mobilized in 2018 for service in Somalia.
ANNEX 1
Organized and Federally recognized 29 April 1921 in the New Jersey National Guard from new and existing elements as the 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry, with Headquarters at Newark
(1st Cavalry redesignated 17 August 1921 as the 102d Cavalry)
Assigned in June 1937 to the 21st Cavalry Division
Relieved 16 November 1940 from assignment to the 21st Cavalry Division
Inducted into Federal service 6 January 1941 at home stations
Reorganized, and redesignated 2 January 1944 as the 102d Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized (remainder of 102d Cavalry–hereafter separate lineage)
Inactivated 23 October 1945 at Camp Shanks, New York
Westfield elements reorganized and Federally recognized 26 September 1946 as the 50th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, with Headquarters at Westfield, and assigned to the 50th Armored Division (remainder of 102d Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized–hereafter separate lineage)
Redesignated in 1947 as the 50th Mechanized Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron
Reorganized and redesignated 1 March 1949 as the 50th Reconnaissance Battalion
Reorganized and redesignated 1 March 1959 as the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron, 50th Armor, an element of the 50th Armored Division
Reorganized and redesignated 31 January 1963 as the 117th Cavalry, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System, to consist of the 5th Squadron, an element of the 50th Armored Division
(Troop B allotted 1 February 1968 to the New York Army National Guard; withdrawn 1 April 1975 from the New York Army National Guard; allotted 1 July 1975 to the New Jersey Army National Guard. Troop C allotted 1 February 1968 to the Vermont Army National Guard; withdrawn 16 October 1984 from the Vermont Army National Guard; allotted 2 October 1986 to the New Jersey Army National Guard)
Withdrawn 1 June 1989 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System
Reorganized 1 September 1993 to consist of the 5th Squadron, an element of the 42d Infantry Division
Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 117th Cavalry Regiment
Ordered into active Federal service 16 June 2008 at home stations
ANNEX 2
Organized and Federally recognized 13 February 1951 in the New Jersey Army National Guard as the 3d Battalion, 102d Armored Cavalry, with Headquarters at Phillipsburg
Reorganized and redesignated 1 May 1954 as the 250th Tank Battalion
Reorganized and redesignated 1 March 1959 as the 2d Medium Tank Battalion, 53d Armor
Redesignated 31 January 1963 as the 2d Battalion, 53d Armor
Redesignated 15 April 1964 as the 6th Battalion, 50th Armor
ANNEX 3
Organized and Federally recognized 16 June 1937 in the New Jersey National Guard from existing units as the 3d Battalion, 157th Field Artillery, an element of the 44th Division (later redesignated as the 44th Infantry Division), with Headquarters at Vineland
Inducted into Federal service 16 September 1940 at home stations
Redesignated 7 January 1941 as the 2d Battalion, 157th Field Artillery
Reorganized and redesignated 20 February 1942 as the 157th Field Artillery Battalion
Inactivated 12 November 1945 at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, and relieved from assignment to the 44th Infantry Division
Converted and redesignated 5 July 1946 as the 114th Tank Battalion and assigned to the 50th Armored Division
Reorganized and Federally recognized 21 November 1946 with Headquarters at Vineland
Redesignated 1 March 1949 as the 114th Medium Tank Battalion
Redesignated 1 December 1952 as the 114th Tank Battalion
Consolidated 1 March 1959 with the 644th Tank Battalion (see ANNEX 4), 113th Tank Battalion (see ANNEX 5), 215th Tank Battalion (organized and Federally recognized 11 April 1947 with Headquarters at Dumont), and the 50th Reconnaissance Battalion (organized and Federally recognized 26 September 1946 from existing units with Headquarters at Westfield) and consolidated unit reorganized and redesignated as the 50th Armor, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System, to consist of the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th Medium Tank Battalions and the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron, elements of the 50th Armored Division
Reorganized 31 January 1963 to consist of the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, and 6th Battalions, elements of the 50th Armored Division (5th Reconnaissance Squadron [formerly the 50th Reconnaissance Battalion] concurrently withdrawn, reorganized, and redesignated as the 117th Cavalry – see ANNEX 1)
Reorganized 1 February 1968 to consist of the 1st, 2d, and 3d Battalions, elements of the 50th Armored Division (4th Battalion [formerly the 215th Tank Battalion] reorganized and redesignated as the 3d Squadron, 104th Armored Cavalry–hereafter separate lineage)
ANNEX 4
Constituted 3 December 1941 in the Army of the United States as the 644th Tank Destroyer Battalion, Light
Organized 15 December 1941 at Fort Dix, New Jersey, from the Anti-tank Battalion (Provisional) of the 44th Division (organized 1 July 1941 at Fort Dix, New Jersey)
Allotted 13 March 1942 to the New Jersey National Guard
Inactivated 5 December 1945 at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia
Reorganized and Federally recognized 18 November 1946 in eastern New Jersey as the 644th Tank Battalion with Headquarters at Red Bank
Redesignated 1 March 1949 as the 644th Heavy Tank Battalion and assigned to the 50th Armored Division
Redesignated 1 December 1952 as the 644th Tank Battalion
ANNEX 5
Constituted 9 July 1946 in the New Jersey National Guard as the 113th Tank Battalion and assigned to the 50th Armored Division
Organized and Federally recognized 8 April 1947 in eastern New Jersey with Headquarters at Orange
(Location of Headquarters changed 31 December 1947 to Dover)
Redesignated 1 March 1949 as the 113th Medium Tank Battalion
Redesignated 1 December 1952 as the 113th Tank Battalion
CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDIT
World War I
Meuse-Argonne
Alsace 1918
World War II
Rome-Arno
Normandy (with arrowhead)
Northern France
Southern France (with arrowhead)
Rhineland
Ardennes-Alsace
Central Europe
War on Terrorism
Iraq:
Iraqi Surge
Troop C, 1st Squadron (Hackettstown), additionally entitled to:
War on Terrorism
Iraq:
National Resolution
DECORATIONS
French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered BEACHES OF NORMANDY
French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered PROVENCE TO LORRAINE
Troop B (West Orange), 1st Squadron, additionally entitled to:
World War II
Asiatic-Pacific Theater,
Streamer without inscription
Troop A (Dover), 1st Squadron, additionally entitled to:
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ SEP 2008-MAY 2009
The 102nd and 117th Cavalry organizations grew from the 102nd Cavalry Regiment whose history goes back to 1890 and the creation of what came to be known as the First New Jersey Cavalry and eventually, the Essex Troop. The 102nd has made some very unique accomplishments and gives New Jerseyans a rich legacy they can be proud of.
The official Lineage and Honors of the 102nd, according to they Army’s Center for Military History goes back to 1913, even though we trace the regiment’s origins to 1890. The squadron was first organized on May 29th, 1913 as part of the New Jersey National Guard and was named the 1st Cavalry Squadron with its Headquarters at Newark.
The first time the squadron was mustered into Federal service was June 21st, 1916 at Sea Girt; the squadron mustered out of Federal service was October 21st, that same year and back in on July 28th1917, drafted on August 5th and then reorganized into what the Army needed in Europe. This practice remains common today.
The practice of reorganizing an element to meet the needs of the Combatant Commander illustrates the need to adapt to the changing tides of war and the specific requirements the situation demands. From 2004 to 2023 every deployment that the 44th Infantry Brigade Combat team (the 1-102nd’s higher headquarters) has seen included modifications to its organization that ran the gamut from minor to radical.
Things were no different in World War I. On September 15th 1917, the Squadron was broken up and its elements reorganized and redesignated:
- The Squadron (less Troops B and D) was reorganized and redesignated as the 104th Train Headquarters and Military Police, an element of the 29th Division. The 104th Train Headquarters and Military Police (less Company B), then reorganized and redesignated 1 November 1918 as the 29th Military Police Company, an element of the 29th Division
- Troops B and D were consolidated to form Battery F, 110th Field Artillery, an element of the 29th Division
Following its service in World War I the Squadron demobilized May 30th, 1919 at Camp Dix, New Jersey and subsequently at Camp Dodge Iowa and was ultimately reorganized in 1919-1920 as the 1st Cavalry Squadron in the New Jersey National Guard and federally recognized 29 September 1920 in Newark and reorganized and redesignated August 17th, 1921 as the 102d Cavalry.
In June 1937 the 102nd was assigned to the 21st Cavalry Division until 1940 and inducted into Federal service 6 January 1941 at home stations. In November 1943, 2d Squadron reorganized, and was redesignated as the 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized (1st Squadron – see ANNEX 1 [remainder of 102d Cavalry–hereafter separate lineages]). The 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized, inactivated 25 November 1945 in Germany, Reorganized and Federally recognized 20 November 1946 at West Orange as the 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron.
It was then reorganized and redesignated 1 November 1949 as the 2d Battalion, 102d Armored Cavalry. Consolidated 1 February 1968 with the 6th Battalion, 50th Armor (see ANNEX 2), and consolidated unit reorganized and redesignated as the 102d Armor, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System, to consist of the 1st and 2d Battalions.
Consolidated 1 December 1971 with the 50th Armor (see ANNEXES 3, 4, and 5) and consolidated unit designated as the 102d Armor to consist of the 1st and 2d Battalions and the 3d, 4th, and 5th Battalions, elements of the 50th Armored Division. Reorganized 1 July 1975 to consist of the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 5th Battalions, elements of the 50th Armored Division, withdrawn 1 June 1989 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System.
Reorganized 1 September 1991 to consist of the 2d and 3d Battalions, elements of the 50th Armored Division, reorganized 1 September 1993 to consist of the 2d and 3d Battalions, elements of the 42d Infantry Division, reorganized 1 September 1994 to consist of the 2d Battalion, an element of the 42d Infantry Division.
Ordered into active Federal service 12 – 27 April 2004 at home stations for service with Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO) and released from active Federal service 11 – 26 April 2005 and reverted to state control.
The squadron was redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 102d Armored Regiment and was ordered into active Federal service 16 June 2008 at home stations for service in Iraq in Bucca (A Troop), Ashraf (B Troop) and with Combined Special Operations Task Force (C Troop) out of Balad. The squadron consolidated 1 September 2008 with the 117th Cavalry Regiment (see ANNEX 1) and consolidated unit designated as the 102d Cavalry Regiment, to consist of the 1st Squadron, an element of the 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Released from active Federal service 20 July 2009 and reverted to state control.
It is important to note that C/5-117th Cavalry and D/250th Brigade Support Battalion mobilized in late 2006 for almost 2 years, serving in Iraq that culminated in the 2007 surge. C/1-102nd Squadron mobilized in 2018 for service in Somalia.
ANNEX 1
Organized and Federally recognized 29 April 1921 in the New Jersey National Guard from new and existing elements as the 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry, with Headquarters at Newark
(1st Cavalry redesignated 17 August 1921 as the 102d Cavalry)
Assigned in June 1937 to the 21st Cavalry Division
Relieved 16 November 1940 from assignment to the 21st Cavalry Division
Inducted into Federal service 6 January 1941 at home stations
Reorganized, and redesignated 2 January 1944 as the 102d Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized (remainder of 102d Cavalry–hereafter separate lineage)
Inactivated 23 October 1945 at Camp Shanks, New York
Westfield elements reorganized and Federally recognized 26 September 1946 as the 50th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, with Headquarters at Westfield, and assigned to the 50th Armored Division (remainder of 102d Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized–hereafter separate lineage)
Redesignated in 1947 as the 50th Mechanized Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron
Reorganized and redesignated 1 March 1949 as the 50th Reconnaissance Battalion
Reorganized and redesignated 1 March 1959 as the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron, 50th Armor, an element of the 50th Armored Division
Reorganized and redesignated 31 January 1963 as the 117th Cavalry, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System, to consist of the 5th Squadron, an element of the 50th Armored Division
(Troop B allotted 1 February 1968 to the New York Army National Guard; withdrawn 1 April 1975 from the New York Army National Guard; allotted 1 July 1975 to the New Jersey Army National Guard. Troop C allotted 1 February 1968 to the Vermont Army National Guard; withdrawn 16 October 1984 from the Vermont Army National Guard; allotted 2 October 1986 to the New Jersey Army National Guard)
Withdrawn 1 June 1989 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System
Reorganized 1 September 1993 to consist of the 5th Squadron, an element of the 42d Infantry Division
Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 117th Cavalry Regiment
Ordered into active Federal service 16 June 2008 at home stations
ANNEX 2
Organized and Federally recognized 13 February 1951 in the New Jersey Army National Guard as the 3d Battalion, 102d Armored Cavalry, with Headquarters at Phillipsburg
Reorganized and redesignated 1 May 1954 as the 250th Tank Battalion
Reorganized and redesignated 1 March 1959 as the 2d Medium Tank Battalion, 53d Armor
Redesignated 31 January 1963 as the 2d Battalion, 53d Armor
Redesignated 15 April 1964 as the 6th Battalion, 50th Armor
ANNEX 3
Organized and Federally recognized 16 June 1937 in the New Jersey National Guard from existing units as the 3d Battalion, 157th Field Artillery, an element of the 44th Division (later redesignated as the 44th Infantry Division), with Headquarters at Vineland
Inducted into Federal service 16 September 1940 at home stations
Redesignated 7 January 1941 as the 2d Battalion, 157th Field Artillery
Reorganized and redesignated 20 February 1942 as the 157th Field Artillery Battalion
Inactivated 12 November 1945 at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, and relieved from assignment to the 44th Infantry Division
Converted and redesignated 5 July 1946 as the 114th Tank Battalion and assigned to the 50th Armored Division
Reorganized and Federally recognized 21 November 1946 with Headquarters at Vineland
Redesignated 1 March 1949 as the 114th Medium Tank Battalion
Redesignated 1 December 1952 as the 114th Tank Battalion
Consolidated 1 March 1959 with the 644th Tank Battalion (see ANNEX 4), 113th Tank Battalion (see ANNEX 5), 215th Tank Battalion (organized and Federally recognized 11 April 1947 with Headquarters at Dumont), and the 50th Reconnaissance Battalion (organized and Federally recognized 26 September 1946 from existing units with Headquarters at Westfield) and consolidated unit reorganized and redesignated as the 50th Armor, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System, to consist of the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th Medium Tank Battalions and the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron, elements of the 50th Armored Division
Reorganized 31 January 1963 to consist of the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, and 6th Battalions, elements of the 50th Armored Division (5th Reconnaissance Squadron [formerly the 50th Reconnaissance Battalion] concurrently withdrawn, reorganized, and redesignated as the 117th Cavalry – see ANNEX 1)
Reorganized 1 February 1968 to consist of the 1st, 2d, and 3d Battalions, elements of the 50th Armored Division (4th Battalion [formerly the 215th Tank Battalion] reorganized and redesignated as the 3d Squadron, 104th Armored Cavalry–hereafter separate lineage)
ANNEX 4
Constituted 3 December 1941 in the Army of the United States as the 644th Tank Destroyer Battalion, Light
Organized 15 December 1941 at Fort Dix, New Jersey, from the Anti-tank Battalion (Provisional) of the 44th Division (organized 1 July 1941 at Fort Dix, New Jersey)
Allotted 13 March 1942 to the New Jersey National Guard
Inactivated 5 December 1945 at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia
Reorganized and Federally recognized 18 November 1946 in eastern New Jersey as the 644th Tank Battalion with Headquarters at Red Bank
Redesignated 1 March 1949 as the 644th Heavy Tank Battalion and assigned to the 50th Armored Division
Redesignated 1 December 1952 as the 644th Tank Battalion
ANNEX 5
Constituted 9 July 1946 in the New Jersey National Guard as the 113th Tank Battalion and assigned to the 50th Armored Division
Organized and Federally recognized 8 April 1947 in eastern New Jersey with Headquarters at Orange
(Location of Headquarters changed 31 December 1947 to Dover)
Redesignated 1 March 1949 as the 113th Medium Tank Battalion
Redesignated 1 December 1952 as the 113th Tank Battalion
CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDIT
World War I
Meuse-Argonne
Alsace 1918
World War II
Rome-Arno
Normandy (with arrowhead)
Northern France
Southern France (with arrowhead)
Rhineland
Ardennes-Alsace
Central Europe
War on Terrorism
Iraq:
Iraqi Surge
Troop C, 1st Squadron (Hackettstown), additionally entitled to:
War on Terrorism
Iraq:
National Resolution
DECORATIONS
French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered BEACHES OF NORMANDY
French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered PROVENCE TO LORRAINE
Troop B (West Orange), 1st Squadron, additionally entitled to:
World War II
Asiatic-Pacific Theater,
Streamer without inscription
Troop A (Dover), 1st Squadron, additionally entitled to:
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ SEP 2008-MAY 2009
