The unit that today is known as the 81st Infantry Brigade Combat Team—but which is in the process of becoming the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team—actually began existence as the 41st Division in 1917. It has experienced a myriad of redesignations, reorganizations, and consolidations over the course of 100-plus years, not receiving its current numerical designation until 1968 with the creation of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 81st Infantry Brigade.
Since that time, it has also been designated by various Army and Army National Guard sources as the 81st Infantry Brigade (Mechanized), 81st Brigade Combat Team, 81st Brigade Combat Team (Heavy), 81st Armored Brigade Combat Team, and finally in 2016 as 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team—only to continue using 81st Brigade Combat Team while the transformation is in the works. One thing, the unit’s nickname, hasn’t changed: “Washington Rifles.”
The famous “Raven” insignia worn by the 81st serving under several of these designations was approved for wear on 22 May 1970, but its wear was discontinued in December 2016 as the Brigade became a component of the 2nd Infantry Division and it began to wear the iconic “Indian Head” patch. Though the imagery of the unit’s now-defunct insignia is rather bare—a raven’s head drawn in a style similar to that of a totem pole on a solid white background with red border—it is replete with meaning.
Many elements of the Brigade are historically units that hail from the state of Washington, and the family crest of state namesake George Washington features a raven on a gold coronet that was subsequently used to craft the crest of Washington military unit insignia. Three Northwest Indian Tribal designs were used to shape the raven: Haida (head), Kwakiuty (lower half), and Nootka (beak, eyes, and mouth).
Related Items
81st Infantry Brigade Combat Team Unit Crest (DUI)
81st Infantry Brigade Combat Team Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)