U.S. Army deactivates legendary Buffalo Soldiers unit after 160 years

Published Jul 28, 06:03 PM UTC

The U.S. Army has deactivated the 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, a unit with direct lineage to the original Buffalo Soldiers, during a ceremony at Fort Irwin, California on July 28, 2026. The squadron, part of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducted its final formation as part of Project Convergence-Capstone 6 before deactivation on July 29. The Buffalo Soldiers originated in 1866 when Congress created six segregated regiments of African American soldiers, later consolidated into the 9th and 10th Cavalry and 24th and 25th Infantry. They served in numerous conflicts including the Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, World War II, and the Korean War. The Army stated the deactivation reflects broader force structure transformation to meet future large-scale combat operations, incorporating emerging capabilities like unmanned systems and electronic warfare. Lt. Col. Shawn Scott, the squadron commander, honored the unit's 160-year legacy of service and sacrifice.