From the 71st Colonel of the Regiment

Colonel  Kevin T. Black
2nd
Issue, 2025

To the 11th Armored Cavalry’s Veterans of Vietnam and Cambodia,

It has been an eventful and rewarding year commanding the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment and I continue to be humbled leading the finest Troopers in the Army!  From operating as the measuring stick that the US Army uses to validate its armored forces, to competing in US Army and international competitions, to our Horse detachment being featured in the Rose Parade and winning Nationals again, Blackhorse continues to uphold the traditions of excellence that is in its DNA.  As we get ready to go on a well-deserved block leave period in June, we look back on all the things we have accomplished to prepare the Army to fight and win the first and last fight.

The focus for this last year remains on building lethality in the Blackhorse and using that lethality to sharpen the Army’s brigade combat teams.  We fought and won against seven brigade combat teams ensuring their worst day was her in the Mojave Desert!  The Regiment also took a lead role in Project Convergence, the Army’s premier emerging technology experiment.  This was the first year that we were given complimentary tech to test and we were able to provide invaluable feedback that will improve the tech and help get into Soldier’s hands faster.  We are committed to improving the Army and to do that we need to have the right tools, and we must find new ways to challenge the ever-increasing lethality of our armored forces.

Most importantly, we are leading the Army Transformation Initiative by changing how we fight to better represent the operational environment that is being employed in the Ukraine conflict and studied by all our adversaries.  We are creating a “dead zone” that replicates the area where you will not be able to talk, use GPA, be under constant surveillance and massive lethal strikes from drones and artillery.  This is also coupled with changes we made to our reconnaissance and security operations.  Using Killer Troop, ed Centaur Recon Bn that is able to provide multi domain reconnaissance/security operations, fight for information and provide protection to the main body in keeping with our Armored cavalry traditions.  This is achieved by Centaur’s focus on the employment of reconnaissance and lethal drones, electronic warfare, deception operations and cunning inherent in every Blackhorse Trooper so units can refine their tactics here and dominate the enemy when called on.

The Regiment was one of three US teams invited to compete in the Australian Army armoured Corp’s M1 Abrams tank competition, the Coral Balmoral Cup.  Although 11th ACR did not place first they did better that Australian and US units with way more time to train, access to more resources and most importantly the represented the regiment with honor.  In addition, the Regiment completed in the US Army Best Mortar, Best Sniper, The Lacerda Cup (combatives), Gainey Cup (Scout squad), and Best Sapper competitions.  When the best in the Army assembles Blackhorse will always be represented!

This year the Regiment has led the way from training brigades in the Mojave Desert to competing with the best the Army has to offer.  I love this Regiment, and I am excited to continue to lead these elite Troopers in making the Army better.  Hopefully I will see you all at the Blackhorse Reunion 12 July 2025 at Southpointe, Las Vegas, Nevada and sharing our love for the “Best Damn Regiment” in the Army!


Kevin T. Black
71st Colonel
11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
 

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