US Army deactivates 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, ending Buffalo Soldiers lineage

Published Jul 28, 06:03 PM UTC

The U.S. Army has deactivated the 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment (4-10 Cav), a unit with a direct lineage to the original Buffalo Soldiers, as part of a broader force structure modernization. On July 28-29, 2026, soldiers held a final formation at Fort Irwin, California, during Project Convergence-Capstone 6 to honor the squadron's 160-year legacy. The Buffalo Soldiers, originally formed in 1866 as segregated African American regiments, served in the Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, Philippine-American War, Mexican Punitive Expedition, World War II, and the Korean War. The deactivation is driven by the Army's shift toward future large-scale combat operations incorporating unmanned systems and electronic warfare. Lt. Col. Shawn Scott, the squadron commander, emphasized that the values and traditions of the Buffalo Soldiers will endure despite the unit's closure.