1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Overview Fort Carson 1972-1984

Recruiting poster for the US Army,
dated 1972 using the history of the
4th Infantry Division as a recruiting aid.

A US Army advertisement in the
Free Lance Star newspaper, May 15, 1975.

In January of 1972 the 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry finally rotated home to the continental United States, after serving
in the Republic of Vietnam for nearly six years. The 4th Infantry Division had returned to the US in December of 1970,
and a little over a year later 1st Battalion rejoined the Division, at Fort Carson, Colorado.

In 1973 the draft was ended and the Army began moving into its future of an all-volunteer force.
The 4th Division had become mechanized, and so, of course did the Battalion. With the end of the Vietnam war, the Army refocused its priorities
into the preparation for fighting a conventional war in Europe against the Soviet Bloc. After being a Light Infantry Battalion for so many years,
the Regulars of 1/22 Infantry mounted M113 Armored Personnel Carriers and trained in mechanized infantry tactics.
It was during this time that the 4th Infantry Division changed its nickname from the traditional "Ivy" Division,
to the modern "Ironhorse" Division ( a nickname that still stands nearly forty years later ).

Mike Brewer, who became part of 1/22 Infantry in early 1975, gives the following description of the Battalion's history
during the years 1975-1978:

"I arrived at Ft. Carson from AIT at Ft. Polk, LA in mid-April, 1975 and was immediately assigned to Weapons Plt (81mm mortars),
Co B, 1/22 Inf. At that time, the 1/22 was garrisoned in WWII-era barracks known as the "mule barns". The battalion remained
in the mule barn area until spring, 1976 when it moved into newly-completed barracks. Also in the spring of 1976, the 1/12 Inf,
also a mule barn occupant, was assigned to Wiesbaden, Germany as a 6-month TDY. The 1/22 was informed that it would be replacing
the 1/12 in Germany for its own TDY, but it was soon revealed that the 1/22's redeployment would actually be a PCS.
Consequently, on October 23, 1976, the main body of the battalion was loaded up on passenger aircraft at Peterson Field,
flown to Detroit for a short fuel-stop/layover and then on to Rhein-Main airport in the Federal Republic of Germany.
At that time the 1/22 was re-designated as the 2/22, and the 1/12, returning to Ft. Carson from Wiesbaden,
was re-designated the 1/22. As I understand it, the 2/22 remained in Germany until 1984.
I remained with the unit until I re-enlisted and returned to the US in December, 1978."

The US Army during this era was constricted by severe budget cuts imposed after the end of the Vietnam war,
and during the 1970's it operated mostly with equipment nearing the end of its usefullness. The 1980's brought an increase
in defense spending and the introduction of new equipment and technology.

During the years 1972 to 1984, as part of the 4th Division, the 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry was part of the Soldiers who tested and adopted
new equipment and tactics for the Army, including, but not limited to, such items as the M16A2 rifle (1982) , the M2 Bradley fighting vehicle (1979-1983),
the PAGST kevlar helmet (1983), and camouflage BDU uniforms (November 1979). The Battalion constantly trained at Fort Carson,
learning and sometimes inventing the mechanized tactics which it would employ should it be called to war. And, in the event of war,
1st Battalion 22nd Infantry would have been among the first to go, whether that war be a conventional or nuclear conflict.

Tension between the two super powers continued to rise during the 1970's and 1980's, and nuclear war
was always a possibility. 1/22 Infantry constantly trained to operate and survive on a nuclear battlefield.

"Red Devil was the training facility down range at Carson. It had Little Vietnam and the Escape and Evasion training sites.
There was always a 'Warsaw Pact Brigade' down range to be the 'aggressors' when we would train.
Back then Russia and the Red Presence was our enemy. We always trained for a big tank battle in Eastern Europe.
That is why we had Reforger exercises. I was in Reforger '77." --- SGT Terry Kotschwar Co. A 1/22 INF 1976-79

The Battalion also participated at least once in the annual Reforger exercises, in which entire Brigades and even Divisions
were airlifted overseas to Germany, to take part in maneuvers and war games in Europe, as rehearsals for possible conflict there.

During these years 1st Battalion was always prepared to be alerted for movement anywhere in the world, should war break out,
or should US forces be needed to meet some crisis. As one of the largest Divisions in the Army at that time,
4th Infantry Division was consistently alerted for possible deployment, and the Soldiers of 1/22 Infantry
came to view these alerts as part and parcel of their regular routine.

Alert Roster for Company A 1/22 Infantry, Fort Carson 1976-1979.
Note the Mechanized designation (M) of A Co 1st Bn 22nd Inf (M)

"The alert roster was for when the 'flag' went up and we were called by the country to mobilize immediately.
We were constantly loaded on C-141's for deployment to areas of the world. I remember getting loaded no less than 7 times.
Panama was a hotspot WAAAAY before it finally blew up, but the country wasn't told how close we were to being sent.
I was called on the alert roster a minimum of every month. We had to dress with all our LBE and bags packed as if we were going to war.
It got really old." --- SGT Terry Kotschwar Co. A 1/22 INF 1976-79

1/22 Infantry loading onto a C-141 transport at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs.
Photo may have been taken prior to departing for Reforger 77.

( The VOLAR program lasted for a year and a half, and 1/22 Infantry only participated in the program for approximately six months.)

In the fall of 1970, Fort Carson was officially notified that it would be an initial test site for the Modern Volunteer Army concept.
The 18-month field test, aimed at creating an environment conducive to an all-volunteer Army, started at the Mountain Post in January 1971.
The best of the test programs would be incorporated into Regular Army budgeted programs. Initially Carson was awarded $5 million
to support the test program. The money was used to increase recruitments and retain active soldiers by improving the quality of Army life.
The list of VOLAR projects included: coffee houses, barracks cubicles and furniture. mobile classrooms, alcohol and drug programs,
outdoor recreational areas, an enlisted men's council, a racial harmony council, a fine arts program, package ski trips, cash awards for achievement
and an off-post guest house. The overall VOLAR program, aimed at eliminating the need for the draft by July 1, 1973, had a major impact at Carson.

Living conditions were improved. Pay was increased. Training was upgraded and made more relevant. Communications were also improved.
Communications played a vital role in VOLAR. The post newspaper, The Mountaineer, was augmented by other publications. A Spanish newspaper,
Adelante, was published to reach individuals who spoke English as a second language. Soldier's Bag was for the troops, and Over The Back Fence
was for spouses. A large number of organizations produced publications that were unique to their area of interest. The enlisted men's council
made quality-of-life recommendations to the command. VOLAR ended officially at Fort Carson on June 30, 1972.
A large number of VOLAR projects have been discarded, however many of them continue to have an important role in today's Army.

Life magazine did an article about the new VOLAR
concept of the US Army in 1971,
which included this photo of Soldiers from the
4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson.

The radical change in barracks living
as shown in the photo apparently
did not last long.

Best available research indicates that
1/22 Infantry never shared in this part
of the VOLAR program.

1/22 Infantry's time at Fort Carson
appears to have been spent living in the
"mule barns", the old barracks
constructed long before the Division
was stationed at Carson.

However, the VOLAR concept was invaluable
as a testbed for determining what changes
and policies the Army needed to adapt,
in order to eventually forge its future
as an all volunteer professional force.