168th Aviation Regiment (United States)

Last updated

168th Aviation Regiment
Washington National Guard (14646764053).jpg
A CH-47 Chinook from 1-168th GSAB performing a "flag drag"
Active1987/88-present
CountryUnited States
Branch United States Army Aviation Branch
TypeAviation
Part of Washington Army National Guard
96th Aviation Troop Command
Garrison/HQ Gray Army Airfield, JBLM, WA
Motto(s)Ready When Needed
Commanders
Current
commander
LTC Emily Gerding
Current Command Sergeant MajorCSM Michael Luna
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia 168 Avn Rgt DUI.jpg
Aircraft flown
Utility helicopter UH-60L Black Hawk
Transport CH-47 Chinook

The 168th Aviation Regiment is an aviation regiment of the United States Army.

Contents

History

The 1st Battalion (General Support), 168th Aviation Regiment (GSAB), can trace its history back to 1959 when it was originally organized as the 41st Aviation Company in the Washington Army National Guard located at Camp Murray, Tacoma, Washington. [1] Over the next fifty years the battalion would be reorganized several different times to meet the changing needs of the U.S. Army.

In 1988 the 1-168th AVN was designated as an attack battalion consisting of AH-1 Cobras and OH-58 Kiowa helicopters. With the retirement of the AH-1 Cobra from the Army inventory, the 1-168th AVN was designated a Theater Army Fixed Wing Battalion and equipped with CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black-Hawk helicopters. These two airframes would form what would become the 1-168th Assault Battalion.

In 2006 the battalion transformed to meet the needs of the U.S. Army by creating the 1-168th General Support Aviation Battalion. The battalion consists of units located in six Western states. Prior to its transformation, subordinate units supported multiple deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, Spartan Shield, and Inherent Resolve. The battalion has also supported NATO operations with International Allies in Kosovo during Operation Joint Guardian. During the transformation to its current configuration, the battalion was alerted for deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 07-09. The 168th has been designated CENTCOM Aviation Task Force with its headquarters located at Udari Army Airfield, Camp Beuhring, Kuwait several times.

Composed of units from Washington, Alaska, Iowa, Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, and Minnesota, the Raptors deployed in 2011, in support of Operation New Dawn 11-12. In 2015 elements of the battalion deployed to CENTCOM areas of operation in support of Operation Spartan Shield. The 1-168th returned to CENTCOM in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Inherent Resolve in 2021-22

Structure

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">135th Aviation Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 135th Aviation Regiment is an Aviation Branch regiment of the United States Army, first formed in August 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Army National Guard</span> Component of the US Army and military of the U.S. state of Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Army National Guard is the Army National Guard component of the Oklahoma National Guard. The Commander in Chief of the Oklahoma National Guard is the Governor of Oklahoma, who appoints the State Adjutant General (TAG), a Major General from either Army or Air. Currently, the TAG is Brig. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino. The previous TAG was Maj. Gen. Michael Thompson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">131st Aviation Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 131st Aviation Regiment is a regiment of the United States Army, constituted under the United States Army Regimental System.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delaware Army National Guard</span> Component of the US Army and military of the state of Delaware

The Delaware Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. National coordination of various state National Guard units are maintained through the National Guard Bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Carolina Army National Guard</span> Component of the US Army and military of the U.S. state of South Carolina

The South Carolina Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the U.S. Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization. National coordination of various state National Guard units is maintained through the National Guard Bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington Army National Guard</span> Military unit

The Washington Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the Washington National Guard based in Washington. The history of the Washington Army National Guard dates back to 1854 with formation of the Washington Territorial Militia. The command is headquartered at Camp Murray in Pierce County. It consists of 6,200 soldiers in two brigades and various smaller units located throughout the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">150th Aviation Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 150th Aviation Regiment is a regiment of the United States Army National Guard organized under the United States Army Regimental System. It was constituted 1 October 1987 in the New Jersey, Vermont and Delaware Army National Guard as the 150th Aviation, a parent regiment under the United States Army Regimental System. It was organized to consist of 1st Battalion at Trenton Airport, New Jersey, Company D at Burlington Airport, Vermont; Company E at New Castle Air National Guard Base, Delaware and Company F at Dover, New Jersey, all elements of the 50th Armored Division.

A Combat aviation brigade (CAB) is a multi-functional brigade-sized unit in the United States Army that fields military helicopters, offering a combination of attack/reconnaissance helicopters, medium-lift helicopters, heavy-lift helicopters, and MEDEVAC capability.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Combat Aviation Brigade, 28th Infantry Division</span> Military unit

The 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade is a heavy aviation unit of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. The Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) is one of four brigades of the 28th Infantry Division. It provides aviation assets for both federal and state active duty missions. The aviators of the CAB fly the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, Eurocopter UH-72A Lakota and Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters. The CAB headquarters is at Muir Army Airfield, Fort Indiantown Gap, located north of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">126th Aviation Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 126th Aviation Regiment is a unit of the U.S. Army National Guard.

The Combat Aviation Brigade, 42nd Infantry Division is a subordinate command of the 42nd Infantry Division. Once contained solely within New York, force reductions and reorganizations have resulted in units from several different states making up the brigade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">111th Aviation Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 111th Aviation Regiment is an army aviation regiment of the United States Army and the Florida National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">140th Aviation Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 140th Aviation Regiment is an aviation regiment of the U.S. Army. It has historically been associated with the California Army National Guard's 40th Infantry Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">104th Aviation Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 104th Aviation Regiment is an aviation regiment of the U.S. Army, primarily provided by the Army National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">285th Aviation Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 285th Aviation Regiment is a parent aviation regiment of the United States Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">211th Aviation Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 211th Aviation Regiment is an aviation regiment of the U.S. Army. It is based in West Jordan, Utah at South Valley Regional Airport, and consist of two battalions.

The 238th Aviation Regiment is an aviation regiment of the U.S. Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">171st Aviation Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 171st Aviation Regiment is an aviation regiment of the U.S. Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">151st Aviation Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 151st Aviation Regiment is an aviation regiment of the U.S. Army, primarily provided by the South Carolina Army National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Spartan Shield</span> United States Army Central operation in the Middle East

Operation Spartan Shield (OSS) is a USCENTCOM operation in the Middle East. OSS is commanded by United States Army Central and includes units from all service branches. Task Force Spartan is the U.S. Army component of OSS.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "1-168th General Support Aviation Battalion". U.S. National Guard. 18 February 2016. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  2. AirForces Monthly . Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. March 2016. p. 56.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Pendleton". Oregon National Guard. 24 December 2016. Archived from the original on 25 December 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "2-135th General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB)". Colorado Army National Guard. 25 September 2018.
  5. "A-1/168th AVN". Idaho Army National Guard. 18 December 2016. Archived from the original on 8 December 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  6. "State Aviation Group". Idaho Army National Guard. 28 September 2018.
  7. "40th CAB Soldiers pass their trial by fire". DVIDS. 24 November 2017.