[From the Archives] 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army, OPFOR patch

Welcome to [From the Archives] where we delve into the history of patches in our archives!

Today we have a very interesting patch from one of the oldest and most decorated units in the U.S. Army—1^st Battalion, 4^th Infantry Regiment. From the early 1800s all the way to modern deployments, their story is pretty incredible. 

The 4^th Infantry Regiment traces its roots back to 1808, when it was first organized in New England to counter the increasing levels of resistance to colonization by Indian tribes living on the American frontier. Just a few years later, the regiment had already seen action in the Battle of Tippencanoe against the confederates and in the War of 1812, fighting in major battles like the defense of Fort Erie against the British.

The 4^th Infantry Regiment coat of arms.

In the 19th century, the regiment pushed westward during the Indian Wars, and later fought with distinction in the Mexican-American War, where it helped capture Mexico City in 1847. By the Civil War, the 4^th was serving with the Union Army, seeing tough combat in the Western Theater, including the Battle of Shiloh.

The distinctive unit insignia of the 4^th Infantry Regiment.

The regiment continued to be active overseas—serving in the Philippine-American War at the turn of the 20th century, and later during World War II. Elements of the regiment fought across the Pacific, earning battle honors along the way.

Now let’s focus in on the 1^st Battalion, 4^th Infantry Regiment, sometimes called “the Warriors.” After World War II, they were stationed in Europe, where they became famous as the Opposing Force or OPFOR at the Hohenfels Training Area in Germany. For decades, 1-4 Infantry has been the dedicated unit that plays the “enemy” in large-scale training exercises, helping US and NATO forces prepare for real combat scenarios.

But the battalion isn’t just about training. Since the 1990s, 1-4 Infantry has also deployed on real-world missions. They’ve served in Bosnia and Kosovo during the Balkan conflicts, and after 2001, they deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, conducting combat operations and mentoring allied forces.

Today, the 1^st Battalion continues its dual role—both as a critical training unit for U.S. and allied forces, and as a deployable battalion with a proud combat record. Their motto, “Always Forward,” sums it up perfectly.”

The 1^st Battalion currently wears the patch of the Seventh Army Training Command. The command’s shoulder patch was originally approved for Seventh Army on 23 June 1943.

 “On a blue right angle triangular background, the hypotenuse to base, a seven-stepped letter "A," steps in yellow with the center in scarlet.”

The letter “A” for “Army” is formed by seven steps indicating the numerical designation of the unit. The colors suggest the three basic combat branches which make up a field army – blue for Infantry, red for Artillery, and yellow for Armor or Cavalry. This particular piece has the word OPFOR underneath, emphasising the battalion’s role in Germany.

The patch of the 1^st Battalion, 4^th Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army.

So that’s the history of this patch and the 1^st Battalion, 4^th Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army. From Union forts to modern training grounds in Germany, they’ve carried their colors into battle for over 200 years, remaining as one of the US Army’s most enduring and active units.

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