Fort Carson, CO - 3:68 Armor

• Activation during the Vietnam Era: The 3rd Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment (3/68 Armor) was activated in the early 1960s at Fort Carson, Colorado, as part of the U.S. Army's Cold War expansion and modernization efforts. • Part of the 8th Infantry Division: 3/68 Armor was originally assigned to the 8th Infantry Division, a unit with a storied history dating back to World War I, before later reassignments. • Combination of Armor and Mechanized Infantry: At Fort Carson, 3/68 Armor often trained and operated alongside mechanized infantry units, perfecting combined arms tactics that became a model for later U.S. Army doctrine. • Distinctive Unit Insignia: The battalion’s insignia features a black panther and a tank tread, symbolizing the unit’s strength, agility, and armored might. • Cold War Readiness: During the 1970s and 1980s, 3/68 Armor was a frontline unit in America’s defense posture, frequently deploying to West Germany for REFORGER (Return of Forces to Germany) exercises. • Transition to New Equipment: The battalion was among the first at Fort Carson to transition from the M60 Patton series tanks to the M1 Abrams main battle tank in the early 1980s. • Unit Reorganizations: 3/68 Armor underwent several reorganizations, including periods of inactivation and reactivation, reflecting the Army's evolving needs and force structure. • Community Engagement: Members of 3/68 Armor regularly participated in local Colorado Springs community events, parades, and military-civilian partnership programs. • Training Ground Innovations: At Fort Carson, the battalion helped pioneer new gunnery and maneuver training techniques on the post’s extensive ranges, influencing Army-wide standards. • Legacy and Honors: While the battalion itself has been inactivated and reflagged over the years, its lineage and honors are preserved in the Armor branch, and many veterans of 3/68 Armor continue to hold reunions and share stories of their service.