The Infantry roots of today’s 163rd Cavalry Regiment are proudly highlighted in the imagery employed in its Distinctive Unit Insignia, also called a unit crest or a DUI. Indeed, the central elements of the insignia—a palm tree, a giant cactus, and a fleur-de-lis—are taken directly from the coat of arms of the 163rd Infantry Regiment—and the shield is identically shaped and uses all the same colors save a gold border that indicates descent from the Infantry unit. A palm tree is used to represent service in the Philippines; the giant cactus stands for Mexican Border duty; and the fleur-de-lis is for World War I service in France.
The central elements of the shield duplicate the coat of arms and distinctive unit insignia of the 163d Infantry; the gold border indicates descent from that unit. The palm tree represents Philippine Insurrection service, the giant cactus Mexican Border duty and the fleur-de-lis service in France during World War I. Blue and white are the colors associated with Infantry and refer to the organization’s combat service as the 163d Infantry during World War II. The motto, “Strike Hard And Fast,” is unique to the 163rd Cavalry; the motto found on the Infantry insignia is, “Men, Do Your Duty.”
Distinctive Unit Insignias are 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. More guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1, Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia" and 21–3(d) and (e), "Beret" and "Garrison Cap," respectively.
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Organized as the 1st Regiment of Infantry in the Montana National Guard between 1884 and 1887, today’s 163rd Cavalry Regiment was first called into Federal service in May 1898 in response to the Philippine Insurrection and was redesignated as the 1st Montana Volunteer Infantry. After fighting in the Manila and Malolos campaigns and returning home, the unit was reorganized as the 2nd Infantry Regiment, Montana National Guard between 1901 and 1903.
The unit was mustered into service for Mexican Border duty in 1916 but operated within the borders of the United States. After being drafted into Federal service on 5 August 1917, the Regiment was consolidated with the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment (District of Columbia National Guard) and the newly created unit was reorganized and redesignated as the 163rd Infantry and assigned to the 41st Division. The 41st Division was converted to a "depot division," a source of replacement troops for front-line combat units, and as was the custom for units and their subordinate components the Division and the 163rd Infantry received uninscribed World War I Victory streamers for their contribution to the Allied victory.
The Regiment was stilll assigned to the 41st Division when it was inducted into service in 1940 and served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, taking part in four campaigns (earning an Arrowhead device for two of them for participating in an assault landing) and earning a Presidential Unit Commendation and a Philippine Presidential Unit Commendation.
Converted and redesignated as the 163rd Armored Cavalry on 1 March 1953, the Regiment eventually be reorganized and redesignated as the 163rd Cavalry in the U.S. Army Regimental System in 1988 to consist of the 1st and 2nd Battalions and Troop E, all elements of the 163rd Armored Brigade and the 163rd Infantry (which began a separate lineage here). In 1995, the 1st Battalion became the 1st Battalion, 163rd Infantry, but in 2006 was returned to the 163rd Cavalry Regiment as its 1st Battalion. The 163rd Cavalry deployed at least twice to the Middle East during the first decade of the War on Terrorism, and in 2013 its service during the second tour (November 2010 to August 2011) was awarded with a Meritorious Unit Commendation.
As of Winter 2023, the 1st Battalion, 163rd Cavalry Regiment—sometimes referred to as the 1st Combined Arms Battalion—is an active component in the Montana Army National Guard and is headquartered at Belgrade, Montana.