2nd U.S. Dragoons

2nd Cavalry Regiment (2nd Dragoons)
Regimental coat of arms
Active	1836–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Cavalry
Role	Cavalry, ambush
Part of	USAREUR
Garrison/HQ	Rose Barracks, Vilseck, Germany
Nickname(s)	Second Dragoons
Motto(s)	Toujours Prêt (Always Ready)
Engagements	Mexican-American War Indian Wars American Civil War Spanish–American War Philippine–American War World War I World War II Gulf War Bosnia Iraq Afghanistan
Commanders
Commander	Colonel Patrick J. Ellis
Notable commanders	William S. Harney Henry Hopkins Sibley David E. Twiggs Albert Sidney Johnston Philip St. George Cooke Joseph T. Dickman Harry Chamberlin Creighton Abrams David M. Maddox John H. Tilelli, Jr. Don Holder Walter L. Sharp
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia
Shoulder sleeve insignia

The 2nd Cavalry Regiment, also known as the 2nd Dragoons, is an active Stryker infantry and cavalry regiment of the United States Army. The Second Dragoons was a component of VII Corps until September 2013, and remains a unit of the United States Army Europe, with its garrison at the Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany. It can trace its lineage back to the early part of the 19th century.

In addition to its two current names, former names are 2nd Riflemen, 2nd Dragoons, 2nd Constabulary Regiment, 2nd Armored Cavalry, and 2nd Stryker Cavalry.

The regiment has previously been known as the 2nd Regiment of Dragoons (May 1836 – March 1843, April 1844 – August 1861); 2nd Regiment of Riflemen (March 1843 – April 1844); 2nd US Cavalry Regiment (August 1861 – July 1942); 2nd Cavalry Regiment (Mechanized) (January 1943 – December 1943); 2nd Cavalry Group (Mechanized) (December 1943 – July 1946); 2nd Constabulary Regiment (July 1946 – November 1948); 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment (November 1948 – July 1992); 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment (Light) (July 1992 – June 2006); 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment (June 2006 – July 2011) and most recently 2nd Cavalry Regiment (July 2011 – present).

In 1808, there was one regiment of light dragoons and during the War of 1812 another regiment was raised. Units of both regiments of dragoons served in engagements at the Mississineway River; the Battle of Lundy's Lane; Fort Erie and the Siege of Fort Meigs. These two regiments were consolidated on 30 March 1814 into the Regiment of Light Dragoons but this new unit was dissolved on 15 June 1815.

The precursor organization was originally established by President Andrew Jackson on 23 May 1836, as the Second Regiment of Dragoons of the US Army. A and I Companies were recruited in the Fort Myer, Virginia area, B Company recruited from Virginia and Louisiana, C Company drew recruits from Tennessee, E, F, G, and H recruited from New York, and K Company was drawn from New Orleans. D Company was organized from a detachment of the 1st Dragoons and served in Florida immediately. In April 1837, the regimental headquarters was moved to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, where the 400 new recruits and their instructors participated in the School of the Trooper, and learned the tactics and ways of being a dragoon, while some of their compatriots were battling the Indians in Florida.