The 1st Squadron traces its heritage back to the organization of Company L, 5th Infantry of the Minnesota National Guard on 17 January 1919 at Redwood Falls.

As the Japanese threat to Alaska lessened, the regiment returned to Seattle on 29 February 1944 and arrived at Fort Bliss on 22 March 1944, where the 215th was disbanded.

The battalion fought in the New Guinea campaign and in the Battle of Luzon, and was awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for the period between 17 October 1944 and 4 July 1945.

The battalion was allocated to the Minnesota National Guard on 21 July and was reorganized and Federally recognized on 29 January 1947 with its headquarters at Hibbing.

On 16 January 1951, the battalion was ordered into active Federal service at Hibbing during the Korean War, but remained stateside.

On 2 December 1954, the 2nd Battalion was released from active duty and Federal recognition was simultaneously withdrawn from the NGUS unit.

[5] In October 1965, the 1st Squadron was designated as part of the National Guard "select force", receiving extra training.

It was ordered into active Federal service on 19 July 2003 for deployment to Bosnia as part of Stabilization Force, along with elements of the 34th.

[11][12][13] On 3 April 2012, the 1st Squadron cased its colors at Camp Buehring as it prepared to leave Kuwait to return to the United States after the completion of Operation New Dawn.

[10] In 2015, the squadron participated in the eXportable Combat Training Capabilities (XCTC) exercise, which included live-fire drills at the platoon level.