The history of the 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry started when the unit was constituted July 28, 1866 in the Regular Army as Company E, 7th Cavalry. It was organized Dec. 22, 1866 at Fort Riley, Kansas. Cavalry companies were officially designated as troops in 1883.

7th Cavalry was assigned in December 1917 to the 15th Cavalry Division; relieved in May 1918 from assignment to the 15th Cavalry Division and assigned Sept. 13, 1921 to the 1st Cavalry Division 7th Calvary dismounted Feb. 28, 1943 and reorganized Dec. 4, 1943 partly under cavalry and partly under infantry tables of organization; reorganized wholly as infantry July 20, 1945 but retained cavalry designations.

7th Calvary was re-designated March 25, 1949 as Company E, 7th Cavalry. 7th Cavalry was relieved Oct. 15, 1957 from assignment to the 1st Cavalry Division.

The unit was inactivated Nov. 1, 1957 in Japan; and concurrently re-designated as Headquarters and Headquarter Troop, 5th Reconnaissance Squadron, 7th Cavalry. It was re-designated again on March 26, 1966 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, and assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division (organic elements concurrently constituted).

The unit was re-activated April 1, 1966 at Fort Carson, Colorado and inactivated March 29, 1971 at Fort Lewis, Washington. The 7th Calvary was activated once more on Sept. 21, 1975 at Fort Hood, Texas and relieved Sept. 30, 1978 from assignment to the 1st Cavalry Division and inactivated at Fort Hood, Texas.

As part of an Army-wide transformation, the unit was activated once again on July 21, 2004 at Fort Stewart. The 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry is task organized to the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.

The Squadron deployed in January 2005 in support of OIF III, under the command of the 42nd Infantry Division. The Squadron was directly responsible for the security and reconstruction of Balad, and the Troopers distinguished themselves by providing security for two separate elections during their tour, allowing local citizens their first opportunity to vote and bolstering the Iraqi democracy. The Squadron redeployed in January 2006.

Following a 12 month RESET period, the Squadron again deployed to Iraq in support of OIF V, as Task Force WARPAINT. The Task Force was attached to the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force. After increasing the security and competency of the local Iraqi forces near the city of Ramadi, the Squadron executed a deliberate attack for Regimental Combat Team 6 to liberate a major logistical artery south of Fallujah. The Squadron defeated the insurgency there and established security, governance, and reconstruction in the villages of Fuhaylat, Amariyah, and Ferris. The Squadron again answered the call and charged to the sound of the guns, relocating to FOB Kalsu, south of Baghdad. Here the Squadron, under the command of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3d Infantry Division, served as the Brigade's main effort in defeating the insurgent stronghold in Arab Jabour, and established reconstruction, local economy, and governance.

Following the 15 month deployment, the Troopers of the Squadron redeployed to Fort Stewart in April, 2008.