The 15th Cavalry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia—also called a unit crest or simply a DUI—was approved 6 April 1935. A shield divided vertically into a red and white upper and lower sections represents the old Cavalry guidon. The crossed weapons in the lower half are
kris, a weapon used by the insurrectionists in the Philippines at the start of the 20th century. A golden lion is taken from the coat of arms of the city of Bordeaux in France reflecting the unit’s service in that region.
The Distinctive Unit Insignia is worn by all Soldiers (except General Officers) in units that have been
authorized to be issued the device. It is worn centered on the shoulder loops of the Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) and the blue Army Service Uniform (ASU, Enlisted only) with the base of the insignia toward the outside shoulder seam.
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The 15th Cavalry Regiment was constituted in the Regular Army on 2 February 1901 and organized ten days later at the Presidio of San Francisco. It was almost immediately deployed to the Philippines to reinforce American Soldiers fighting in the Philippine Insurrection; it served in two of the campaigns of that conflict. During World War I, the unit did not receive individual campaign streamers despite having fought in them because they were selected to serve as replacement troops, but the World War I victory streamer it was awarded was a reminder of the Regimental motto, Tour Pour Un, Un Pour Tous—French for “All For One, One For All.”
During World War II, the unit was designated as the 15th Cavalry Group (Mechanized) and it (or its component Squadrons and Troops) served as part of Third and Ninth Army while earning credit for participation in four campaigns. The unit underwent significant reorganizations and redesignations following the War, culminating in several of its component units being consolidated to form 15th Cavalry under the old Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS) in 1957. Briefly redesignated as 15th Armor (1963 – 1967), it was withdrawn from the CARS in 1987 and designated 15th Cavalry under the U.S. Army Regimental System that same year.
It was also assigned to U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command at the same time, with its 5th Squadron tasked with training new recruits at Fort Benning, Georgia, and in 2017 was responsible for training the first women to ever graduate from Cavalry Scout One Station Unit Training. In 2018, the 2nd Squadron, 15th Cavalry Regiment was activated, bringing the total of active squadrons from the Regiment to two. As the lowest-numbered active Squadron, the 2nd maintains the Regimental Colors as it too trains new Cavalry Soldiers.
As of 2023, both Squadrons continue their training mission as part of the 194th Armored Brigade and are stationed at Fort Moore, the new designation given to Fort Benning in October 2023.