1ST MEDICAL BRIGADE, SILVER KNIGHTS!

The 1st Medical Brigade was first constituted 3 August 1917 in the Regular Army as Headquarters, 1st Sanitary Train, assigned to the 1st Expeditionary Division and organized in New York, New York. As originally organized, the 1st Sanitary Train was composed of two battalions—one motorized and one animal drawn. The 1st Sanitary Train would go one to participate in six campaigns in France in World War I.

Redesignated in 1921 as Headquarters, 1st Medical Regiment, the unit supported the Medical Field Service School at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania during the Interwar years. During this time, the 1st Medical Regiment also provided support to the homeland during Ohio River Floods of 1937 and typhoid inoculation efforts.

In 1943, the unit was reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st Medical Group. During World War II, the 1st Medical Group participated in campaigns in the Rhineland and Central Europe. The unit remained in Europe following the War until it was inactivated in Verdun, France in 1962.

In 1968, the 1st Medical Group was reactivated at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. It would go on to participate in Operation DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM in 1990 and 1991. On 6 June 2000, the unit was redesignated as 1st Medical Brigade.

INSIGNIAS ORIGIN & MEANING

1MED.pngShoulder Sleeve Insignia: The shoulder sleeve insignia was authorized effective 6 June 2000. (TIOH Dwg. No. A-1-844). On a white rectangle arced at top and bottom with a 1/8 inch (.32 cm) yellow border, 2 inches (5.08 cm) in width and 3 inches (7.62 cm) in height overall, a maroon cross throughout bearing a yellow rod entwined by a green snake with a red eye. Maroon and white are the colors used by the Army Medical Department units; gold is for excellence. The staff of Aesculapius and the maroon cross, symbolize the medical arts and allude to the mission of the Brigade.

1st Medical Brigade_DUI.pngDistinctive Unit Insignia: The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 1st Medical Regiment on 19 December 1923. It was redesignated and amended to include a motto for the 1st Medical Group on 20 March 1968. The insignia was amended to correct the symbolism on 26 April 1968. It was redesignated for the 1st Medical Brigade effective 6 June 2000.A maroon shield bearing within a wreath of silver oak leaves the helmet of an esquire charged with the shoulder sleeve insignia of the First Division, a shield with the figure "1." All above a silver scroll bearing the inscription "FORTITUDE AND COMPASSION" in black letters. Maroon and white (silver) are the colors used for the Army Medical Service. The red numeral "1" on an olive drab shield is the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 1st Division as authorized 31 October 1918, and with which the unit served in World War I. The helmet indicates the military character of the organization.

UNIT EXPECTATIONS

T-E-A-M-S

  • Train and certify leaders. The responsibility for training and certifying our leaders is the cornerstone of preserving the Army as a Profession. Leader certification should both confirm that our Soldiers can perform their current job and establish a means to prepare them for the next position. Counseling and thoughtful leader and individual development plans may be used to codify these goals and objectives.
  • Expand Knowledge. Leaders must be intellectually curious and committed to life-long learning to remain relevant and ready to perform our missions. This requires creating individual development goals that challenge our people to continue expanding their problem-solving skills and competence across a wide spectrum of topics related to, but not limited to, national security strategy, doctrine, health service support, modernization, history and the military profession. Leaders at all levels should pursue military and civilian education goals, licensure, and certification; an expanded understanding of the history and evolution of conflict; deeper understanding of culture and effective communication; Army and unit-level reading lists; and participation in relevant communities of learning and practice.
  • Assess Attributes and Competencies. We will develop adaptive leaders, who possess the attributes and competencies identified in the “Leadership Requirements Model” found in ADP 6-22, Army Leadership. Coaching, teaching, and mentoring allow for ongoing assessment through counseling, broadening experiences, observation, and feedback. This requires developing systems and measures of performance to assess our Soldiers and Teams in a variety of settings. This is less about creating task-oriented followers and more about building adaptive leaders.
  • Manage Talent. Be deliberate and intentional about employing leader development practices to align the diverse talents and backgrounds of the team to grow our Army and help the unit achieve the mission. Commanders and leaders are responsible for developing all subordinate leaders two levels down, which holds the rater, senior rater and the individual leader responsible to one another for future jobs, potential, goals and objectives. Have a plan to do this!
  • Steward the Profession. The Army as a profession embodies the imperative that values, character, and integrity form the foundation for effective mission accomplishment. Commanders and leaders will reinforce professional standards and effective capabilities to sustain the readiness of our Army.