168th Infantry Regiment (United States)

168th Infantry Regiment
Distinctive unit insignia
Active	1864 to Present
Country	United States
Allegiance	Iowa
Branch	Iowa Army National Guard
Size	Regiment
Part of	34th Infantry Division
Nickname(s)	Third Iowa (Special Designation)
Motto(s)	ON GUARD
Commanders
Notable commanders	John W. O'Daniel

The 168th Infantry Regiment ("Third Iowa") is an infantry regiment of the United States Army. The 1st Battalion of the 168th Infantry is part of the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, part of the Iowa National Guard.

The 168th Infantry served during the 'Punitive Expedition' pursuing Pancho Villa and the latter part of World War I. It became part of the 42nd Division, commonly referred to as the 'Rainbow' Division. For four months, from July to November 1917, the unit built and occupied Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa. Prior to be being sent to Europe, the 168th was stationed at Camp Mills, New York.

First Battalion, 168th Infantry deployed to Afghanistan in 2004 where it provided provincial reconstruction team (PRT) security forces (SECFOR). The Battalion was ordered again into active federal service on 31 July 2010 at home stations to deploy to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). The Battalion conducted post mobilization training at Camp Shelby, MS from August to October 2010, culminating with a mission rehearsal exercise (MRX) at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, CA.

Upon deployment into Afghanistan, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry became Task Force 1-168 and assumed responsibility for the Afghan Province of Paktya. Task Force 1-168's mission was conduct security force assistance through combined action with Afghan Security Forces that resided in Paktya. Task Force 1-168 conducted a transfer of authority with Task Force 1-279 (Oklahoma Army National Guard) on 10 July 2011 and redeployed to the Continental United States (CONUS) in July 2011.

During the Civil War the Regiment was organized from independent companies in southwestern Iowa and mustered into federal service on 8 August 1861 as the 4th Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry. It was reorganized on 1 January 1864 as the 4th Iowa Veteran Infantry Regiment, and mustered out of federal service 24 July 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky.