The 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana, is the Louisiana Army National Guard’s primary combat formation, providing trained and ready forces for global deployments and domestic emergency response. The brigade commands infantry, field artillery, engineer, cavalry, and brigade support units strategically located throughout the state, combining centuries of military heritage with modern combat capabilities. As one of the National Guard’s most frequently deployed brigade combat teams, the 256th has earned a reputation for readiness and operational excellence in both state and federal service.

The brigade draws upon the lineage of Louisiana militia established in 1770 under Spanish Governor Alexander O’Reilly, with subordinate units whose service spans more than 250 years. Among its historic formations are the Washington Artillery, now the 141st Field Artillery Regiment and the Louisiana National Guard’s oldest continuously serving unit, organized in 1838, along with the 156th Infantry Regiment and 769th Engineer Battalion, whose histories reflect generations of service to the state and nation.

The 256th IBCT has deployed repeatedly in support of overseas contingency operations since the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism. Following two combat deployments to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the brigade returned home in 2005 to immediately support recovery efforts after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, exemplifying its dual mission of serving the United States abroad and the citizens of Louisiana at home. During a 2020-2021 deployment, Task Force Tiger conducted multi-theater operations across Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq and Syria in support of Operations Inherent Resolve. More recent deployments sent brigade Soldiers to Kosovo and the Horn of Africa, while the 1st Battalion, 173rd Infantry Regiment supported Multinational Force and Observers operations in the Sinai Peninsula in 2025. Soldiers from Battery A, 1st Battalion, 141st Field Artillery Regiment also deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in the Middle East. Today, the brigade remains a cornerstone of the Louisiana Army National Guard’s combat capability and one of its most distinguished organizations.