316th Cavalry Regiment (United States)

The 316th Cavalry Regiment was a unit of the United States Army. It existed primarily during the interwar period and into the early years of World War II as part of the Organized Reserves. As a component of the Army's mobilization plans, it was intended to provide trained officers and enlisted personnel to augment the Regular Army's cavalry regiments in the event of a major conflict.

Details regarding the 316th Cavalry Regiment are often scarce due to the nature of reserve units during that era. Information such as specific training exercises, locations of headquarters, and details on subordinate units are often difficult to ascertain. Many records from that period are incomplete or were lost.

The regiment was likely composed of a headquarters element and several squadrons or troops. These elements would have drawn personnel from civilian volunteers who drilled periodically, typically one weekend a month and for a longer period during summer training. Officers often came from prior military service or from ROTC programs at universities.

Upon the United States' entry into World War II, the 316th Cavalry Regiment, like many reserve units, was likely broken up. Its personnel would have been reassigned to various active duty units, both cavalry and otherwise, as the Army reorganized to meet the demands of global war. The need for horse cavalry diminished rapidly, and personnel with leadership or specific technical skills were invaluable in filling out rapidly expanding formations in other branches, such as armor, infantry, and artillery.

Further research in archival sources, such as National Archives records pertaining to the Organized Reserves and unit mobilization plans from the interwar period, may provide more detailed information on the history of the 316th Cavalry Regiment.