1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment

Welcome to the 1-63 AR page. Here you'll find news and announcements about the Battalion. For more information, check out www.riley.army.mil.

Unit History:

The 63rd Armor Regiment was organized in 1942 as the 745th Tank Battalion at Camp Bowie, Texas. 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment traces its lineage to Company A, 745th Tank Battalion. The 745th Tank Battalion was reorganized and redesignated on 1 September 1942 as the 745th Tank Battalion, medium. After training in Texas and Louisiana, the 745th Tank Battalion departed New York in

the summer of 1943 and continued its training in England. The Battalion was reorganized and redesignated back to the 745th Tank Battalion on 2 December 1943. Landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944, the 745th Tank Battalion supported the 1st Infantry Division during the Normandy Invasion. For its actions on the beachhead, the Battalion was awarded the French Croix de Guerre. After securing the Caumont, the Battalion continued its support of the “Big Red One” moving south through the breakthrough at Marigny and then west toward Coutances. It assisted in closing the Argentan-Falaise gap in September, moved north to the Soissons area, and then advanced through France to the vicinity of Leige, Belgium. In September 1944, the battalion, along with the 1st Infantry Division, destroyed an enemy pocket at Mons, Belgium, capturing more than 5,000 prisoners, including the commander of the German 6th Airborne Division. The withdrawal of German forces enabled the 1st Infantry Division to move rapidly toward Aachen, Germany. The Division laid siege to the city taking it after a direct assault on 21 October 1944. The 1st Infantry Division then attacked east of Aachen through the Hurtgen Forest in the drive toward the Roer. After bitter fighting, it moved to a rest area in December 1944. Later that month, the division fought on the northern flank of the German counter-offensive in the Ardennes in the area of Eupen-Malmedy, repulsing the enemy after heavy combat. After the German counterattacks were thwarted, the Division and it attached units pushed forward to reduce enemy pockets and throw the Germans out of Belgian territory. For its actions at Noms and at Eupen-Malmedy, the 745th Tank Battalion along with the 1st Infantry Division was awarded the Belgian Fourrangere. The Battalion supported the 1st Infantry Division’s attack against the Siegfried Line through 7 February 1945, when the 1st was relieved by the 99th Infantry Division. Following World War II, the 745th Tank Battalion was inactivated on 27 October 1945 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. Three years later on 14 September 1948, the Battalion was redesignated as the 63rd Heavy Tank Battalion and activated in Germany as an element of the 1st Infantry Division. Company A, 745th Tank Battalion became Company A, 63rd Heavy Tank Battalion. The unit was reorganized and redesignated on 10 October 1950 as the 63rd Tank Battalion. The Battalion served in West Germany until 1955, when it, along with the 1st Infantry Division, moved to Fort Riley, Kansas as a part of Operation Gyroscope. The Battalion was inactivated at Fort Riley on 15 February 1957 and relieved from assignment to the 1st Infantry Division. As part of ROAD (Reorganized Objective Army Divisions), the Battalion was reorganized and redesignated on 25 January 1963 as the 63rd Armor, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System. Company A was reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company 1st Medium Tank Battalion, 63rd Armor. The 1st Battalion was the assigned to the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas. The unit was reorganized and redesignated on 20 January 1964 as the 1st battalion, 63rd Armor. When the 1st Infantry Division deployed to Vietnam in 1965, the Battalion remained at Fort Riley. In 1969 it was posted to Fort Knox, Kentucky, returning to Fort Riley, Kansas in 1970, when the 1st Infantry Division came back from Vietnam. The Battalion was inactivated on 16 August 1987 and relieved from assignment to the 1st Infantry Division. The unit was activated on 16 September 1987 at Fort Irwin, California and assigned to the 177th Armored Brigade on 19 October 1991. The 63rd Armor Regiment was reorganized under the US Army Regimental System with its home base at Fort Irwin, California. It was inactivated on 15 October 1994 at Fort Irwin, California, and relieved from assignment to the 177th Armored Brigade. The unit was assigned on 16 February 1996 to the 1st Infantry Division and activated in Germany. The 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment continued to train in Germany, eventually becoming the 1st Infantry Division’s immediate ready task Force (IRTF). In February, 2003, the IRTF was attached to the 173rd Airborne Brigade(Separate) and became the first airborne-inserted armor Battalion, called to support the northern operation into Iraq to provide a credible threat to the Iraqi forces. The remainder of the Battalion flew in later in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II, returning home in February of 2004. Upon returning to Germany, the 1-63rd Armor again cased their colors to support troop drawdown in Germany. On 16 March 2008, the colors were brought back to Fort Riley, Kansas. Upon returning to Kansas, the Battalion continued to train and serve with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. The Battalion would go on to deploy to the Middle East 3 more times in support of the Global War on Terror, as well as deploy to Europe as a part of Operation Atlantic Resolve in 2017, and to the Republic of Korea in 2020.

Photos from 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment's post

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving to our Dragon Family! We had a good week with a toy ruck where Dragons donated toys for Christmas, a PT competition in our first below freezing morning of the year, and ended the week being able to serve Thanksgiving lunch!

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Winning Absolutely Matters 🇺🇸

III Armored Corps 1st Infantry Division 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment Hellhounds 1-63 FRG Apex Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment Blitz Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment CUTTHROAT 1-63 SFRG Grizzly Company FRG Fort Riley U.S. Army

09/27/2025

Congratulations to our Career Counselor, SSG Heuer, for winning the 1ID Career Counselor of the Year board. She will be advancing to the next level and representing the 1st Infantry Division at the III Armored Corps board.

Seek Strike Destroy
Winning Absolutely Matters 🇺🇸

III Armored Corps 1st Infantry Division 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division U.S. Army Fort Riley Hellhounds 1-63 FRG Apex Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment Blitz Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment CUTTHROAT 1-63 SFRG Grizzly Company FRG

09/22/2025

Start your weekend right! Dagger Fall Day is this Friday, 26 September from 3pm-7pm at Custer Hill Parade Field.

Free games and activities for all ages.

Food and drinks available for purchase. PLEASE BRING CASH if you plan to purchase food.

🍂🎉 DAGGER FALL FUN IS HERE! 🎉🍂

Come join us this Friday for an afternoon full of excitement, games, and community spirit! This event is FREE for all 2ABCT Soldiers and Families — you won’t want to miss it.

✅ Bouncy Houses
✅ Tug-of-War / Volleyball / Flag Football
✅ Food Trucks — including Filos Foods and the Dagger BDE Food Truck (💵 bring cash for food!)
✅ Static Displays
✅ Leadership Dunk Tank

📅 Friday, 26 September
🕒 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 Custer Hill Parade Field

Bring your family, bring your energy, and let’s make it a great day together!

09/20/2025

This past week, we had the pleasure of re-enlisting SSG McCarty and his family! The Command Teams and the Scout platoon came out to witness and support his decision to continue his dedicated service to this great Nation!

Thanks to the Commanding General's Mounted Color Guard for supporting this momentous occasion for the McCarty family!

Seek, Strike, Destroy! 🇺🇸🐉
Winning Absolutely Matters!

III Armored Corps 1st Infantry Division 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division Apex Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment Blitz Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment CUTTHROAT 1-63 SFRG Grizzly Company FRG Hellhounds 1-63 FRG U.S. Army U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) Fort Riley Commanding General's Mounted Color Guard

09/16/2025

The Dragon Battalion successfully executed redeployment operations following the completion of Danger Gauntlet. Over a two-week period, Our Soldiers used this training to sharpen tactical and technical skills. These efforts ensured sustained readiness and preserved combat effectiveness for future operations.

Seek, Strike, Destroy.🐉🇺🇸
Winning Absolutely Matters!

U.S. Army III Armored Corps 1st Infantry Division 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment
Apex Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment
Blitz Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment
Grizzly Company FRG, CUTTHROAT 1-63 SFRG
Hellhounds 1-63 FRG

09/14/2025

Today, the Dragon Battalion kicked off the weekend with APEX Company conducting a company level force-on-force exercise. Through disciplined ex*****on of maneuver techniques and effective command and control, APEX Company achieved a decisive advantage and met the exercise objectives.

Seek, Strike, Destroy! 🇺🇸🐉
Winning Absolutely Matters!

U.S. Army III Armored Corps 1st Infantry Division 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment
Apex Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment
Blitz Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment
Hellhounds 1-63 FRG Grizzly Company FRG CUTTHROAT 1-63 SFRG

09/12/2025

Today, the Dragon Battalions Medical Platoon executed a mass casualty exercise as part of Danger Gauntlet, demonstrating tactical proficiency, discipline, and resilience under pressure.

Seek, Strike, Destroy! 🐉🇺🇸
Winning Absolutely Matters!

U.S. Army III Armored Corps 1st Infantry Division 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment
Blitz Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment
Apex Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment
Grizzly Company FRG, CUTTHROAT 1-63 SFRG, Hellhounds 1-63 FRG

09/11/2025

Today was another excellent day of training for the Dragon Battalion. Our Soldiers successfully zeroed and qualified on their M4s, demonstrating both skill and discipline. Meanwhile, Blitz Company and Breacher Company conducted a combined arms class and rehearsal in preparation for tomorrow’s mission.

Seek, Strike, Destroy! 🐉🇺🇸
Winning Absolutely Matters!

U.S. Army III Armored Corps 1st Infantry Division 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment
Blitz Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment
Apex Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment
Grizzly Company FRG CUTTHROAT 1-63 SFRG
Hellhounds 1-63 FRG

09/09/2025

Another successful day for the Dragon Battalion. From our Soldiers demonstrating spiritual readiness during Danger Gauntlet, to Cutthroat Company returning to the rear for well-deserved rest and recovery as they prepare for deployment to NTC—our formation remains focused, disciplined, and ready for the mission ahead.

Seek, Strike, Destroy! 🐉🇺🇸
Winning Absolutely Matters!

U.S. Army, III Armored Corps 1st Infantry Division
2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment
Blitz Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment
Apex Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment
Grizzly Company FRG CUTTHROAT 1-63 SFRG
Hellhounds 1-63 FRG

09/07/2025

The Dragon Battalion is honing their skills in lethality and readiness during Danger Gauntlet, mastering combined arms maneuver in challenging terrain. Always ready, always lethal.

Seek, Strike, Destroy! 🐉 🇺🇸
Winning Absolutely Matters!

U.S. Army, III Armored Corps 1st Infantry Division
2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment
Blitz Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, Apex Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment Grizzly Company FRG, CUTTHROAT 1-63 SFRG, Hellhounds 1-63 FRG

09/07/2025

Great start to Danger Gauntlet! Dragons are all over the training area, maneuvering throughout the day and night, sharpening their skills, and perfecting their craft. The dedication exhibited by the Soldiers of the Dragon Battalion is why we stand ready to defend this great Nation at a moments notice.

Seek, Strike, Destroy!
Winning Absolutely Matters!

U.S. Army III Armored Corps 1st Infantry Division 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment Hellhounds 1-63 FRG Apex Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment Blitz Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment CUTTHROAT 1-63 SFRG Grizzly Company FRG

08/19/2025

Great few weeks as all of the companies have been training hard. Gunnery, maneuver live fire, ranges, and training with combat engineers!

Seek, Strike, Destroy!
Winning Absolutely Matters!

U.S. Army III Armored Corps 1st Infantry Division Fort Riley 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division Hellhounds 1-63 FRG Apex Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment Blitz Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment CUTTHROAT 1-63 SFRG Grizzly Company FRG 82nd Brigade Engineer Battalion

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Telephone

+17852404704

Website

http://www.riley.army.mil/Units/1stInfantryDivision/2ndArmoredBrigadeCombatTeam.aspx

Address

7622 Shanks Street
Fort Riley, KS
66442

1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment

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