In 1976 the 4th Infantry Division positioned a brigade in Germany which was to be rotated every six months. In late 1976, the Army decided to permanently station a brigade of the 4th ID at Weisbaden, Germany and attach it to the 8th Infantry Division for operational purposes. At that period the configuration of the Forward Brigade included "E" Troop, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry. The balance of the 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry remained at Fort Carson, under the 4th ID Division Troops.

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In mid 1976, the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) began a formal division restructuring effort to create a force design that took maximum advantage of the new generation of equipment the Army expected to receive in the early 1980s. On 01 July 1977, the 1st Cavalry Division entered Phase 1 of the DRS to test, evaluate and determine the most effective use of manpower and weapons systems of future "heavy divisions" on the battlefields of the future. Four of the maneuvering regiments were reorganized to include one maintenance company per maneuver unit.

01 July 1977, in order to provide the full spectrum of equipment for testing, the 3rd Battalion, 10th Cavalry Regiment was withdrawn from allotment in the Army Reserve, assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division and activated at Fort Hood, TX. The 3rd Battalion became the first restructured maneuver unit to complete and qualify in tank gunnery.

Along with the 3rd Battalion, 10th Cavalry, "E" Battery, 1st Battalion, 68th Air Defense Artillery, the 68th Chemical Defense Company, and one anti-armor company, were assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division. On 08 August, the 227th Aviation Battalion was activated with one air cavalry troop, one attack helicopter company, one general support company and a maintenance element.

Not unexpectedly, the Division Restructuring Evaluation (DRE) testing yielded mixed results. Strong support emerged for brigades with organic battalions, integration of combined arms at battalion level and below, single-purpose maneuver units and cross attachment at company level. Yet serious doubts remained: the three-tank platoon was too small, the division depended too much on external combat service support and lacked scouts in maneuver battalions, and the brigade's span of control was too large.

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1n 1981, the 1st Squadron. with the 4th Infantry Division, participated in two major exercises; REFORGER '81 which began in June with training, loading railcars and POMPUS draws. On 03 September "C" Troop deployed and arrived in Kaiserslautern. Germany. The balance of the Squadron deployed on 15 September and joined in with "C" Troop at Kaiserslautern. "C" Troop and one platoon of "B" Troop engaged in the majority of the action on the defensive phase of the operation. heavy rains such as may be encountered in battle, added to the complexity of the mission and caused many delays and maneuver damage.

In 1982 the 1st Squadron participated in three major exercises; deployment to Ft. Ord, Ca, Operation REDTHRUST and Division Opposing Force (OPFOR) operations. In 1983 the 1st Squadron deployed to Ft. Lewis, WA and continued regular training of tank, TOW/Dragon gunnery and Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) certification.

On 16 March 1984, the 3rd Battalion, 10th Cavalry was inactivated and relieved from the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, TX.

On 16 February 1987, the 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry was inactivated and relieved from assignment to the 4th Infantry Division.

On 16 June 1987, the 10th Cavalry Regiment was withdrawn from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the US Army Regimental System. Concurrently the 1st and 2nd Squadron were redesignated as the 1st and 2nd Battalion, 10th Cavalry Regiment and assigned to the 194th Armored Brigade.

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On 16 December 1992, the 1st Battalion, 10th Cavalry was relieved from assignment to the 194th Armored Brigade, concurrently reorganized and redesignated as the 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry and reassigned back to the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, CO.

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On 15 October 1995, the 1st Battalion, 10th Cavalry was inactivated at Fort Carson, CO.