297th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 297th Infantry Regiment (Alaska Scouts) is a parent infantry regiment of the United States Army, represented in the Alaska Army National Guard by the 1st Battalion, tactically part of the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
| 297th Infantry Regiment | |
|---|---|
Coat of Arms of the 297th Infantry | |
| Active | 1939–1944, 1959–present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Type | Infantry (Parent regiment under US Army Regimental System) |
| Part of | 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (1st Battalion) |
| Garrison/HQ | Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson |
| Motto(s) | "Yuh Yek" (Vigilance, Watchfulness) |
| Engagements | Iraq War |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Lieutenant Colonel Luke S. Bushatz (1st Battalion) |
| Command Sergeant Major | Command Sergeant Major Russell Throckmorton |
| Insignia | |
| 297th Infantry Distinctive Unit Insignia | |
| 297th Cavalry Coat of Arms | |
| 297th Cavalry Distinctive Unit Insignia | |
| U.S. Infantry Regiments | ||||
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| U.S. Cavalry Regiments | ||||
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Constituted in 1939 and organized in 1940 and 1941, the one-battalion regiment remained in Alaska during World War II, and became a separate infantry battalion in 1944. The 297th was reconstituted in 1959 with two battalions and a battle group, which later became a third battalion. In 1972, it was split into the 297th Infantry and the 297th Cavalry but both units merged as the 297th Infantry in 1976. The regiment's 3rd Battalion deployed to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom between 2006 and 2007, and in 2009 it became the 297th Cavalry with 1st Squadron. In 2016, the 297th Cavalry became an infantry unit again.