The regiment draws heritage from the original 10th Mountain Division, which fought during World War II, both in the type of training they conduct and in the specialized equipment the unit maintains.

Reorganized 1 October 1984 in the Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont Army National Guard as the 3d Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain).

The initial missions were company-size elements sent to Afghanistan (Battalion HQ), Kuwait (HHC), and Iraq (A, B, C Companies) during the early years of the War on Terrorism.

After returning from these separate missions, the battalion was assigned in October 2006 to be the nucleus of the newly formed 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain).

This culminated in the entire brigade's mobilization and two trips to the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk, LA in late 2009 and early 2010.

Detached to serve under the 3rd Brigade, 101st ABN (Air Assault), Mountain Soldiers conducted 10 months of counterinsurgency operations against the Taliban.

[citation needed] The Mountain Infantrymen of this battalion follow a long heritage of citizen soldiers and warriors, who have served the country for almost 400 years.

There are numerous veterans of OIF and OEF who are authorized to wear the First Army insignia with "Mountain" Tab as a "combat patch" (SSI-FWTSI).

The only known proof of authorization for wear of the First Army insignia with Mountain Tab for members of 3-172 IN (MTN) hangs framed in the unit's home Armory in Jericho, VT.

Note: Department of the Army policy states that tabs such Mountain and Airborne are integral parts of the shoulder sleeve insignia, and all soldiers within a unit wear the same SSI.

My brother Soldiers and Countrymen count on my ability to shoot better, climb higher, ski farther, and fight with more cunning and aggression than any enemy I may face.

I will conduct myself with honor, pride, and an esprit de corps second to none, whether in peace or wartime whether at home or abroad, for my mission is to...ASCEND TO VICTORY!

A Silver color metal and enamel device 1+1⁄8 inches (2.9 cm) in height consisting of a shield blazoned as follows: Per fess dancetty of four Azure and Argent issuant in base a mount Vert and overall in bend a ski pole crossed by an ice axe in bend sinister, in pale overall a sword point up of the second.

That for the regiments and separate battalions of the New York Army National Guard: On a wreath of the colors Argent and Azure the full-rigged ship "Half Moon" all Proper.

That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Vermont Army National Guard: On a wreath of the colors Argent and Azure a buck's head erased within a garland of pine branches, all Proper.

That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Maine Army National Guard: On a wreath of the colors Argent and Azure a pine tree Proper.