World War 1 saw the first time states’ National Guard Units were called to active duty during wartime. Several National Guard units served with distinction in the fighting in France with the 42nd, 79th and other Army Divisions. 

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The United States Army's 3rd Cavalry Division was created from the perceived need for additional cavalry units during the interwar period.

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However, the 3rd Cavalry Division was largely a "paper" formation existing from 1927 to 1940. Its cavalry regiments were active units, but most of the support elements were "Regular Army Inactive" (RAI) units manned with Organized Reserve personnel. The division never assembled in a single location or conducted large-scale training, and was disbanded on 10 October 1940.

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The USVRC adopted and trademarked, the 3rd Calvary Division as its organizational unit designation to honor those thousands of young soldiers, some of whom served in France during the First World War, who never had the opportunity to identify or express their pride of being included in a division. 

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The USVRC unit patch bears the number “3” from the original 3rd Calvary Division patch and the words “Fort Stevens (1864)” to honor the Civil War VRC’s participation in the 1864 battle that saved Washington City (DC).