The 3rd Infantry Division is the US Army's only armored division assigned to the XVIII Airborne Corps.

Based at Fort Stewart, Georgia, the division maintains forces that are a part of the Immediate Response Force (IRF).

Structured to deploy within 96 hours of initial notice, IRF forces are able to support rapid response.

Their armored capabilities furnish the XVIII Airborne Corps with heavy ground combat capabilities during the early stages of a crisis or contingency.

While airborne and air assault units provide rapid entry forces, the 3rd Infantry Division delivers protected mobility through its armored tanks and combat vehicles.

Affectionately nicknamed the "Rock of the Marne," the division fields a combined arms structure designed for sustained, land-based combat operations.

The division's current organization includes a division headquarters and headquarters battalion, two armored brigade combat teams, one combat aviation brigade and a division artillery headquarters.

It is further composed of a sustainment brigade, a combat sustainment support battalion and a maneuver enhancement brigade.

It also contains the 103rd Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Battalion and the 92nd Engineer Battalion.

It has elements that operate out of Fort Benning, Georgia and Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia.

Historical background

The division has served in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, members of the 3rd Infantry Division moved from Kuwait to Baghdad in what was known as the "Thunder Run."

Aggressive operations assessed Iraqi defenses, seizing key structures like the airport with heavy armor. This "Thunder Run" was key to toppling Saddam Hussein’s regime.

This division, heralded for its track record, has the Army's highest number of Medal of Honor recipients, with sixty one soldiers honored.

The division's nickname "Dogface Soldiers" dates to World War II and reflects its identity as a ground combat force capable of managing tough environments.

Capabilities

The division's armored brigade combat teams center on the M1A2 Abrams main battle tank.

This platform weighs 68 metric tons (75 short tons) and is armed with a powerful 120mm smoothbore cannon.

It is capable of speeds up to 67km/h (42mph) with an operational range of about 426km (265mi).

Its infantry components operate the M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle, which carries a 25mm chain gun and TOW BGM-71 anti-tank missiles.

A commander, a gunner and a driver, as well as six fully equipped infantrymen, comprise its crew.

The division's artillery uses M109A6 Paladin 155mm howitzers, firing standard rounds over 22km (14mi) and rocket-assisted rounds past 30km (19mi).

Within the XVIII Airborne Corps, the presence of the 3rd Infantry Division provides heavy ground combat power for offensive operations.