diff --git a/src/registrar/assets/js/get-gov.js b/src/registrar/assets/js/get-gov.js
index 3b075c060..91aeac214 100644
--- a/src/registrar/assets/js/get-gov.js
+++ b/src/registrar/assets/js/get-gov.js
@@ -1965,10 +1965,17 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {
       // Find the selected option
       const selectedOption = select.querySelector('option[selected]');
       
-      // If there's a selected option, set its text as the input value
+      // If there's a selected option, set its text as the input value.
+      // If the default name is "------", then this indicates that the field is blank.
+      // Don't populate in this case.
       if (selectedOption) {
-        input.value = selectedOption.textContent;
-        comboBox.classList.add('usa-combo-box--pristine');
+        // Check to make sure the value isn't just a line of dashes.
+        // Caveat: we can't have any suborgs named "------". This is OK.
+        const isEmptyValue = /^-+$/.test(selectedOption.textContent);
+        if (!isEmptyValue) {
+          input.value = selectedOption.textContent;
+          comboBox.classList.add('usa-combo-box--pristine');
+        }
       }
     });
   });
diff --git a/src/registrar/forms/domain.py b/src/registrar/forms/domain.py
index 66ad3e8c1..e9f756acb 100644
--- a/src/registrar/forms/domain.py
+++ b/src/registrar/forms/domain.py
@@ -513,7 +513,7 @@ class DomainSuborganizationForm(forms.ModelForm):
 
     sub_organization = forms.ModelChoiceField(
         queryset=Suborganization.objects.none(),
-        required=False,
+        required=True,
         widget=forms.Select(),
     )
 
@@ -525,7 +525,6 @@ class DomainSuborganizationForm(forms.ModelForm):
 
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
-        self.fields["sub_organization"].required = False
         if self.instance and self.instance.portfolio:
             self.fields['sub_organization'].queryset = Suborganization.objects.filter(
                 portfolio=self.instance.portfolio
diff --git a/src/registrar/templates/django/forms/widgets/combobox.html b/src/registrar/templates/django/forms/widgets/combobox.html
index ce4b384cc..c338953ed 100644
--- a/src/registrar/templates/django/forms/widgets/combobox.html
+++ b/src/registrar/templates/django/forms/widgets/combobox.html
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-<div class="usa-combo-box" data-initial-value="{{ widget.value }}">
+<div class="usa-combo-box">
     {% include "django/forms/widgets/select.html" %}
 </div>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/registrar/templates/domain_suborganization.html b/src/registrar/templates/domain_suborganization.html
index f318af941..ed0cb69f3 100644
--- a/src/registrar/templates/domain_suborganization.html
+++ b/src/registrar/templates/domain_suborganization.html
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
         If you believe there is an error please contact <a href="mailto:help@get.gov" class="usa-link">help@get.gov</a>.
     </p>
 
+    {% include "includes/required_fields.html" %}
     <form class="usa-form usa-form--large" method="post" novalidate id="form-container">
         {% csrf_token %}
         {% input_with_errors form.sub_organization %}