Between 1921 and 1963, the brigade was reconstituted, reorganized, redesignated, or inactivated sixteen different times. During that period of time it participated in the World War I Campaign and the Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe Campaigns of World War II. On 21 June 1963, the brigade was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, and it was activated on 26 August 1963.
The 2nd Brigade deployed in support of combat operations in Vietnam, participating in numerous campaigns and counteroffensives from 1966-1970. It received the Valorous Unit Award for the Cu Chi District, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm (1966-1968), and the Vietnamese Civil Action honor Medal, First Class (1966-1970).
During the period from its return from Vietnam to September 2003, the 2nd Brigade supported numerous strategic objectives throughout the Pacific Theater. It also conducted primarily training and administrative deployments to strengthen ties with other allied nations, including the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea.
In October 2003 the first element of 2nd Brigade deployed to Kuwait in preparation for its yearlong rotation in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. After marshaling all of its equipment from the port, 2nd Brigade conducted a series of training exercises and continued to increase its level of readiness for the upcoming movement into hostile territory.
By February 2004 Soldiers from 2nd Brigade had arrived at their command posts in Northern Iraq, having convoyed more than 500 miles in a four day period. The enormous convoy operation, dubbed Operation Koa - the Hawaiian word for “Warrior” - included approximately 600 vehicles in the journey from Kuwait to Kirkuk, about 140 miles north of Baghdad. Kirkuk Air Base became the center of 2nd Brigade’s support element. Task Force 1-21 had the mission of conducting full-spectrum operations within the city of Kirkuk, working to achieve stabilization and helping the Iraqis in this city achieve a fully integrated society. Task Force 1-14 spent little time in one place throughout the course of the deployment, conducting short notice movements to Tal Afar, Samarra, Mosul, and twice to An Najaf in support of combat operations. Task Force 1-27 conducted operations in Hawijah, East Sharqat, and the surrounding region, a very large and often violent area. The Infantry task forces were supported by accurate and responsive fires from Task Force 2-11, the brigade’s artillery battalion. In addition to their indirect fire role, Task Force 2-11 also conducted traditional infantry operations in the Sulaymaniyah and Kirkuk provinces. None of this could have been possible without world class support from the 225th Logistics Task Force, which transitioned from its traditional role of supporting light infantry to supporting a motorized brigade. Due to the 2nd Brigade’s actions in Iraq, the Brigade was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation, and the infantry battalions were awarded the Valorous Unit Award.
In June 2004 the Army proposed the transformation of the 2nd Brigade into the Army’s 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team. Since then the 2nd Brigade has executed this transformation, making it into a more lethal fighting force capable of deploying anywhere in the world in 96 hours. This transformation included the creation of the 5th Squadron, 14th Cavalry, which has since reflagged as the 2nd Squadron, 14 Cavalry as the sixth battalion-sized element organic to the 2nd Brigade.
The 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team deployed to Iraq in November 2007 and is currently conducting operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.