Dec 11, 2006 By Patty Yauger 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE TWP. – The colors of the Connellsville Township-based Pennsylvania Army National Guard 28th Division, Company B, 1st Battalion, 103rd Armor unit have been rolled up as the U.S. Army continues to restructure the national military. “We will now be part of the 110th, 2nd Brigade Combat unit,” said Capt. Tom Guthrie, the new company commander. “It will allow for more flexibility on the battlefield.”

The modularity concept, said Guthrie, will combine the armored units, such as the 1/103rd, with infantry units, like the 1/110th, for training and then the reconfigured unit will serve together if called to federal duty.

“Previously, a commander would have armored units from different areas mixed with his infantry unit,” said Guthrie. “Now, the battalion commander will have his own organic armor piece, infantry pieces and artillery pieces.

“He will know all of his commanders, his equipment and his troops.”

Maj. Timothy H. Blayney, battalion commander, said that often times, commanders require a function to be performed that does not warrant the deployment of an entire unit.

“However, deploying portions of units can render the remaining elements of the parent organization incapable of performing their mission due to a lack of key personnel and equipment,” he said. “Modularity is about packaging units into flexible configurations, creating more cohesive and capable units and adjusting the types and mix of active component and reserve component units.

“Modular units are rapidly deployable, responsive, agile and discrete packages of land force combat power. The object of modularity is to provide superior tactical units that are more responsive and provide greater mission potency for the commanders.”

The move will not severely impact the Connellsville Township organization.

“The biggest change for us will be our designated unit name; we will still be tankers,” said Guthrie. “With this new model, we will, however, be cross-training with the infantry.”

The soldiers of 1/103rd along with its armory have a very long and distinguished history. The former unit armory, built in 1902 and located on West Washington Avenue in Connellsville, was listed in 1991 on the National Register of Historic Places.

The organization moved to its township facility in 2005.

Since 9/11, the Connellsville unit has been twice activated to federal duty.

In 2003, the unit participated in Task Force Keystone, a mission that took them to Italy, where it provided security at U.S. military installations.

Shortly after their return, the soldiers were again activated for deployment with their destination listed as Iraq. All members of the unit have since returned home.

The unit and many individual soldiers have been recognized for the bravery and acts of valor on the battlefield.

Guthrie, meanwhile, is elated to lead the now 1st/ 110th MX BN unit as it begins a new chapter.

“It is a challenge I am looking forward to,” he said.

Former Dawson resident and member of the Connellsville unit, Maj. Gen. Robert P. French, said the 110th Regiment also has a storied history of successful service, dating back to 1873.

“It has been called to duty every time the nation has gone to war,” he said, adding that the 1/103rd was earlier a part of the 1/110th.

“We are very proud of the Connellsville unit, its soldiers and leaders,” he said. “The solders have served and sacrificed during the global War on Terror, as so many of their forefathers did.

“I know they will continue to excel.”