The 1st Battalion was mobilized in March 2017 for one year of service with the Multinational Force & Observers in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt.

Currently, the 1st Battalion is a part of the 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, a major formation of the New Jersey National Guard.

Only after Great Britain burned Washington City and generally increased its naval pressure on the East Coast did Massachusetts allow its militias to be mustered into federal service.

With the start of the Civil War, the 6th Massachusetts (Militia) was ordered into active service for the defense of Washington in April 1861.

As it marched to the relief of the capital, it was attacked by a pro-southern mob in Baltimore in what would later be called the Pratt Street Riot.

The regiment was stationed at Fort Monroe, Virginia and fought in the Battle of Deserted House on 30 Jan. 1863 and the Siege of Suffolk in May 1863.

Private Joseph S.G. Sweatt of Company C was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Carrsville, VA on 15 May 1863.

The citation reads: "When ordered to retreat this soldier turned and rushed back to the front, in the face of heavy fire of the enemy, in an endeavor to rescue his wounded comrades, remaining by them until overpowered and taken prisoner."

The 6th Massachusetts was mustered into federal service on 25 June 1916 at Framingham for the Mexican Border Campaign and stationed at El Paso, Texas.

The remaining soldiers of the 6th Massachusetts (15 officers and 279 enlisted men) formed the nucleus of the 4th Pioneer Infantry Regiment, which was filled to wartime strength with draftees.

The regiment, commanded by Colonel Holton B. Perkins, trained at Camp Wadsworth, South Carolina.

Before that transition could be executed, the Fall Offensives of 1918 pushed the 4th Pioneer Infantry into service in their intended role as engineer support and labor troops.

[8] The regiment additionally is entitled to World War I battle honors through the 104th Infantry (2nd Massachusetts) for Isle de France, Lorraine 1918, and Champagne-Marne.

[10] With the United States' entry into World War II, the 181st was relieved from the 26th Division and assigned to the Eastern Defense Command (EDC) on 27 January 1942.

[11] The 211th Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm howitzers) was attached to form a regimental combat team.

The 181st Infantry was assigned to the EDC conducting coastal patrols from Higgins Beach, Maine to Watch Hill, RI to prevent the landing of German agents from U-boats.

Technical Sergeant Alfred L. Wilson was posthumously presented with the Medal of Honor for performing lifesaving care while under fire.

In September 2003, the 1-181st Infantry Regiment deployed to Cuba as part of Joint Task Force Guantanamo.

In September 2005, 1-181st Infantry mobilized as the lead element of Joint Task Force Yankee for rescue and security operations in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.

Companies served as a rear area operations center, as well as providing security for facilities and personal protection for designated individuals.