The 178th Infantry Regiment traces its history back to the formation of the 16th Battalion, Illinois State Militia, on 1 April 1878.

The Illinois General Assembly removed the 16th from the military roster in 1882, but it was reactivated soon after in 1883 as the Chicago Light Infantry until its disbanding in 1887.

[1] The Eighth Infantry Regiment was federalized on 30 June 1916, in Springfield, and served briefly during the Mexican Border War.

[1] The 370th was reorganized as the 8th Illinois again in June 1919, and conducted state duties, including intensive training and maneuvers until 6 October 1940, when it was redesignated as the 184th Field Artillery Regiment (155 mm howitzer.

[1] After reorganizations in 1959, 1963, and 1965, the First Battalion, 1-178, was assigned to the 33rd Infantry Division on 1 February 1968 and assisted in riot control in Chicago during the 1968 Democratic National Convention.

[1] In the winter of 2008, as a part of the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the battalion was deployed to several provinces across Afghanistan to perform SECFOR missions and assist in Provincial Reconstruction Teams, including Paktia Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, where they relieved elements of the 27th IBCT, New York Army National Guard.

They returned home in 2009 In July 2019 the battalion again deployed to both Patyika and Logar province of Afghanistan, the same area where Bravo Company was involved in combat during Operation Enduring.

Later in February the battalion was moved over to Helmand province to provide area security for TF West for the remainder of the mobilization.