Leadership Transitions in the 5th and 3rd Cavalry Commands During Late 1930s

In December 1938, Colonel George S. Patton Jr. transitioned from Fort Clark, Texas, to Fort Myer, Virginia, where he assumed command of the United States Army’s 3rd Cavalry Regiment. The move followed his short tenure as commanding officer of the 5th Cavalry Regiment, a position he had taken in July 1938 after being promoted to colonel. His reassignment placed him in charge of the 3rd Cavalry at Fort Myer, located near Washington, D.C., a unit known for ceremonial duties as well as traditional mounted cavalry training during the interwar period. Patton’s leadership of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment lasted from December 1938 until July 1940. During this time, the U.S. Army was still structured around horse cavalry formations, though mechanization and armored warfare concepts were gaining attention. Patton, who had previously advocated for mechanized forces and modern mobility, commanded the regiment through routine training, discipline programs, and preparation for evolving Army doctrine. His tenure ended when he was reassigned in July 1940 to Fort Benning, Georgia, where he took command of a brigade in the 2nd Armored Division, marking his transition from traditional cavalry to armored warfare leadership.