Apache Scouts

Apache Scouts
Apache scouts at Fort Apache, Arizona, in the 1880s
Active	1860s - 1947
Country	United States of America
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Army
Type	Indian scouts
Role	Cavalry tactics Charge Close combat Desert warfare Force protection Guerrilla warfare Hand-to-hand combat Maneuver warfare Patrolling Raiding Reconnaissance Tracking
Engagements	Chiricahua War Navajo War Yavapai War Victorio's War Geronimo's War Border War

The Apache Scouts were part of the United States Army Indian Scouts. Most of their service was during the Apache Wars, between 1849 and 1886, though the last scout retired in 1947. The Apache scouts were the eyes and ears of the United States military and sometimes the cultural translators for the various Apache bands and the Americans. Apache scouts also served in the Navajo War, the Yavapai War, the Mexican Border War and they saw stateside duty during World War II. There has been a great deal written about Apache scouts, both as part of United States Army reports from the field and more colorful accounts written after the events by non-Apaches in newspapers and books. Men such as Al Sieber and Tom Horn were sometimes the commanding officers of small groups of Apache Scouts. As was the custom in the United States military, scouts were generally enlisted with Anglo nicknames or single names. Many Apache Scouts received citations for bravery.^{[citation needed]}