When the 101st returned from Viet Nam, most of its personnel in the rank of staff sergeant and below were discharged upon arrival at Oakland, California, or Seattle, Washington. What remained largely consisted of a command group of staff officers and senior NCOs. The division settled into buildings recently vacated by the "U.S. Army Training Center, Fort Campbell, Kentucky."
When the 101st was rebuilt, the separate 173rd Airborne Brigade was inactivated and its assets used to form the 3rd Brigade as an Airborne unit consisting of 1-503rd INF, 2-503rd INF, and 3-187th INF. The partial Airborne capability also extended to supporting units of the division (i.e., one company of three in a supporting unit was Airborne). This lasted only until April 1974, when jump status for the 3rd Brigade was terminated, and the Airmobile Badge (renamed Air Assault Badge later that year) was introduced.
In October 1983 the 1st, 2d, and 4th Battalions, 187th Infantry, were activated, and on November 21, 1984 a 5th Battalion was activated. The 1st and 2nd Battalions were assigned to the 193rd Infantry Brigade in Panama and the 3rd, 4th and 5th were assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell. The 4th and 5th were created by reflagging the existing 1-503rd and 2-503rd, the colors of which were soon reactivated in Korea within the 2nd Infantry Division. The Panama-based 2-187th included one Airborne company (Moatengators) within the battalion, and later jump status was expanded to the entire battalion. During a realignment of the United States Army's combat forces in 1987 the 1st and 2d Battalions were inactivated and the 5th and 4th Battalions were reflagged as the 1st and 2d Battalions, respectively.
From September 1988 through March 1989, 1st Battalion reorganized as Task Force 1-187 and deployed to the Sinai Desert, Egypt as the United States' contingent of the Multinational Force and Observers peacekeeping mission.
In 1995 The Iron Rakkasans were redesignated Task Force 3-187 and deployed to the Sinai Peninsula in July 1995. The Iron Rakassans were responsible for the southern portion of Zone C and based at South Camp, Sharm el Shiek, Egypt. During the Iron Rakkasans deployment, they were instrumental in the recovery of casualties from an accident near one of the sector control centers and evacuating them to hospitals utilizing Multinational Forces Helicopters. On November 23, 1995, a 7.1 eatherquake hit the Sinai Peninsula. Again the Iron Rakkasans performed road recon and rescue operations throughout the penisnula. For the Iron Rakkasans actions during their depoyment, they earned a Distinguished Unit Citation. The Iron Rakkasans returned to the United States in January 1996
In early 2002 the Rakkasans deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom where they most notably participated in Operation Anaconda in the eastern Shah-i-Khot region. The 2nd Battalion (Raider Rakkasans) as well as C company 1st Battalion were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for combat valor during this period.
In 2003, the Rakkasans, commanded by Colonel Mike Linnington, were deployed to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry was temporarily attached to the 3rd Infantry Division and accompanied them during the push into Baghdad. While attached to the 3rd Infantry Division, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry became one of the first units to invade Baghdad, for this feat the 3rd Battalion (Iron Rakkasans) were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. Before moving north to Ninevah province, the Rakkasans conducted extensive stability and support operations in Baghdad's southwest sector. The Rakkasans conducted the majority of their operations in the northwest of Ninevah province with the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry focusing efforts around Tallafar, Zumar, and Avgani. The 2nd Battalion, 187th Infantry worked primarily around Sinjar and Biaj, and the 3rd Battalion was headquartered in Rabia.
They returned to Fort Campbell in 2004 and redeployed to Iraq again in the fall of 2005. During their second tour in Iraq, they focused operations in Salah ad Din province, with the 3rd Battalion, and 1/33 Cavalry regiment temporarily detached for operations in Baghdad and a Ninevah province. The brigade commander was Colonel Michael D. Steele. It was during this deployment that the brigade conducted "Operation Swarmer", one of the largest combat operations in Iraq since the initial invasion. Rakkasans worked with Iraqi Army soldiers throughout Salah ad Din province defeating insurgents, Al Qaeda cells, and uncovering numerous caches of weapons and explosives.[3].
The Rakkasans are the only airborne warfare regiment in the history of the Army to fight in every war since the development of airborne tactics. From glider to parachute to air landing to air assault by helicopter, the regiment has entered combat using every mode of airborne assault and has pioneered the tactics that govern these modes of assault.
