82nd Combat Aviation Brigade current Modular Force structure. In 2006, the 82nd Aviation Brigade transformed to become the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade. The 82nd CAB is organized as a medium CAB and shares this common structure with the aviation units in the 101st ABN and 1st ID. Major changes to the 82nd CAB include:
Conversion of 1-82 to an AH-64D Attack Recon Battalion
Addition of a Pathfinder Company to 2-82
Addition of 3-82 General Support Aviation Battalion with organic CH-47, UH-60, MEDEVAC, and Air Traffic Services
Conversion of D/AMC to 122nd Aviation Support Battalion
82nd CAB units:
Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC)
The 82nd Aviation Brigade owes its lineage and heritage to 3 organizations: the 82nd Combat Aviation Battalion, the lst Squadron (Air), 17th Cavalry Regiment, and the 269th Aviation Battalion. The regimental colors of both the 17th Cavalry Regiment and 82nd Combat Aviation Battalion were still proudly represented in the Brigade.
1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment
The 17th Cavalry Regiment was first constituted on 1 July 1916, making the 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, the oldest unit in the 82nd Aviation Brigade. The 17th Cavalry Regiment was organized under the provisions of the National Defense Act of 1916 at Fort Bliss, Texas on 30 June 1916 and constituted on 1 July 1916. General Pershing had taken his columns into Mexico only a short time before and the need of cavalry troops was pressing. Thirty-two officers and 791 veterans from the lst, 3rd, 6th, 8th and 14th Regiments were transferred as the nucleus of the new regiment. The cavalry organization of 17 regiments, in effect when the United States entered the war against Germany, was based upon the National Defense Act of 1916. In May 1917, emergency laws called for an immediate increase to full strength authorized by the National Defense Act, and organization of the remaining 8 new cavalry regiments began at once.
The demobilization of the National Guard of Hawaii followed the end of World War I. As a result the 17th Cavalry was the only mobile line organization in the Hawaiian Department. The regiment, strengthened by various recruit contingents which joined during the summer of 1919, furnished the garrison at Fort Shafter and Schofield Barracks, until the fall of 1920, when the arrival of additional troops relieved the cavalry of some of their duties. The 17th Cavalry was inactivated on 26 September 1921 at Presidio of Monterey, California.
World War II found each division with a reconnaissance platoon. The 82nd Airborne Division was no exception. The Division Reconnaissance Platoon's mission was to gather intelligence in one form or another. Sometimes they attempted to draw fire to expose enemy positions. These Eyees and Ears were eventually strengthened following the war, reorganized and redesignated the 82nd Reconnaissance Company on 15 December 1947. On 15 July 1950 it was again redesignated as the 82nd Airborne Reconnaissance Company.
Divisional reorganizational changes were implemented following the Korean War. Smaller sized cavalry elements were approved for service as separate squadrons under the Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS). Under this system parent regiments were carefully selected. Except for the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 11th, and 14th Armored Cavalry Regiments (which retained their regimental structure), the 1st through the 17th Cavalry regiments were included. In 1957, with the advent of CARS, Troop B, 17th Cavalry, was organized in the 101st Airborne Division and was soon followed by Troop A, 17th Cavalry, in the 82nd Airborne Division. It was the first Division unit to receive aircraft when the Reconnaissance Company was redesignated A Troop, 17th Cavalry in 1957.
On 25 May 1964, the 1st Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron, 17th Cavalry was activated. Troop B of the Squadron saw action in the Dominican Republic when it deployed with the 82nd Airborne in 1965 and served as the Division's security element. Troop B also deployed to the Republic of Vietnam in 1968 in support of the Division's 3rd Brigade for a period of 22 months. On 18 January 1973 the Squadron was reorganized. A Troop, 7-17 Cavalry returned from Vietnam and became D Troop, C Troop was converted to an Air Cavalry Troop, and became the 1st Squadron (Air), 17th Cavalry. On 27 October 1983, Troop B again deployed, this time to the Island of Grenada, West Indies. The Squadron maintained elements on the island well into 1984.
The 1980's were marked by an emphasis on the air cavalry. Receipt of the newest of helicopter technology, AH-1S (ECAS), OH-58C, and UH-60 aircraft increased the capabilities of the squadron. Continuing to maintain itself at a high level of readiness, the Squadron (-) participated in Operation Urgent Fury with the 82nd Airborne Division.
In late December 1989, D Troop, 1-17th Cavalry deployed to Panama with TF Wolf as part of Operation Uphold Democracy.
In the summer of 1990 the 1st Squadron received the new OH-58D scout aircraft. In August 1990, the 1-17th Cavalry was conducting a rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center when the 82nd Airborne Division was deployed to Saudi Arabia in response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. Troop B and part of Troop A deployed with Task Force 1-82. The units were alerted on 5 August 1990 and deployed on the 8 August 1990. The Squadron returned from Fort Chaffee and deployed with the Headquarters Troop and D Troop pilots and aircraft on 12 August 1990. The remainder of the Squadron deployed in September 1990. In 1993 the 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry upgraded their aircraft fleet to OH-58D(I)s and turned in the last AH-1F aircraft on 21 June 1993. The Aviation Resource Initiative (ARI) forced the squadron to a pure aircraft fleet and E Troop (UH-60) was deactivated and reflagged as the Squadron's Maintenance Troop.
The 1-17th Cavalry was deployed to Iraq on 3 seperate occasions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. As of November 2005, various elements of the 1-17th Cavalry were known to operating around Lake Tar Tar in northwestern Iraq.
The Soldiers of 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment transitioned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky in early spring 2006 and were reflagged as 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment on 10 April 2006, being officially re-activated as part of the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky on the 16th of June 2006.
As part of the 82nd Airborne's own transition to the US Army's modular force structure, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry was reactivated and assigned to the reorganized 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade.
1st Battalion, 82nd Aviation was activated 7 December 1962, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina as Company A, 82nd Aviation Battalion, an element of the 82nd Airborne Division. The assets of A Company significantly increased the Division's mission capabilities and provided a highly mobile and responsive source of combat power to the division commander. The unit was first committed to combat in the Republic of Vietnam. Company A became known as the "Wolfpack" and adopted the name as its callsign. Throughout its one year stay in Vietnam, Company A participated in several defensive and counteroffensive operations and performed with valor earning both the Presidential and Meritorious Unit Citations.
In July 1979, Company A was inactivated and reactivated as Company D, 82nd Aviation Battalion.
In October 1983, Company D conducted attack helicopter combat operations with the 82nd Airborne Division during Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada. In October 1986, Company D inactivated and reorganized as the 20th Attack Helicopter Battalion (Provisional). Three months later, the D Company was reactivated and redesignated as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Attack), 82nd Aviation, with its organic elements concurrently constituted and activated. It continued to operate as the Army's only Airborne Attack Helicopter Battalion.
In August 1987, the Battalion deployed to Fort Hood, Texas and transitioned to the AH-64A Apache. In honor of the unit's lineage, 1-82nd Aviation reinstituted the "Wolfpack" callsign from its intense days of combat operations in Vietnam. In March 1988, the Wolfpack returned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and the 82nd Airborne Division as the world's first combat ready Advanced Attack Helicopter Battalion.
The Wolfpack conducted combat operations with the 82nd Airborne Division, 7th Infantry Division, 75th Ranger Regiment, and Special Operations units during Operation Just Cause, in Panama, in December 1989 and thus became the first attack battalion to conduct combat operations with the new AH-64A Apache. In August 1990, the Wolfpack was the first Army Aviation unit to deploy to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in preparation for combat in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Throughout Desert Storm, the unit conducted several successful deep attack missions as an integral part of the 82nd Airborne Division's end sweep deep into Iraq earning a second Meritorious Unit Citation.
On 16 March 1995, 1-82nd Aviation transitioned from the AH-64 Apache to the OH-58D(I) Kiowa Warrior.
1-82nd deployed to Iraq with other elements of the 82nd Aviation Brigade on three seperate occasions between 2003 and 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In January 2006 the entire 82nd Airborne Division began a transformation to the US Army's new modular force structure. 1-82nd Aviation remained with the reorganized and redesignated 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade.
In late 2006, 1-82nd Aviation deployed along with other elements of the 82nd Aviation Brigade returned to Iraq for another tour of duty.
In 2007 1-82nd Aviation deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
2-82 Assault Battalion
The 2nd Battalion (Assault), 82nd Aviation Regiment traces its heritage back to the 82nd Aviation Company in 1957. That company enlarged to a battalion, and in 1960 had the distinction of becoming the first combat aviation battalion organic to a division-sized unit. Battlefield mobility had become a new focus in the 82nd Airborne Division and the 82nd Aviation Battalion led the way.
In 1965 the Battalion received its trial-by-fire when a company was deployed to Vietnam in support of the now famed 173rd Airborne Brigade. While in Vietnam, 82nd aviation crews conducted air assaults, combat re-supply under enemy fire and the first combat extraction of wounded soldiers from dense jungle using only a lowered rope and Swiss seats. 1965 also saw the remainder of the 82nd Aviation Battalion deployed to the Dominican Republic to fly airlift, reconnaissance, medical evacuation, leaflet drop, and loudspeaker missions in support of the 82nd Airborne Division’s deployment there.
Throughout the 1970's and 80's, the Battalion underwent numerous organizational changes to meet the rapidly evolving aviation requirements of the Division. In 1979, the unit was designated the 82nd Combat Aviation Battalion and consisted of 114 aircraft, including UH-1 Hueys, AH-1 Cobras and OH-58 Kiowa observation helicopters. Highlighting this period was the arrival of the UH-60A Black Hawk in 1981.
Another first for the Battalion and Army Aviation came in 1983 during Operation Urgent Fury when the Black Hawk was used for the first time in combat. The Battalion deployed to the small Caribbean island of Grenada and led the way on a major combat air assault and numerous re-supply and air movement operations.
On 15 January 1987, to meet the still expanding aviation requirements of the Division, the 82nd Aviation Battalion was designated Company B, 82nd Aviation, an element of the 82d Airborne Division. It was reorganized and redesignated on 16 October 1989 as 2nd Battalion, 82nd Aviation Regiment within the newly formed 82nd Aviation Brigade. 2-82nd Aviation was comprised of a headquarters company, 3 line companies and a maintenance company.
Shortly after the new transformation, in 1988, the Battalion deployed with the Brigade to Honduras to provide support to Southern Command throughout Central America. The deployment was highlighted by SERE training, deck landing qualification, mountain training and M60D aerial gunnery live fire exercises.
Back to back combat operations during the 1989 Panama invasion and the 1991 Persian Gulf War once again put the Battalion to the test. Even upon redeployment from Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the Battalion maintained an impressive operational tempo. Throughout the 1990's the Battalion participated in multiple deployments to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California and the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. The Battalion also assisted in the 1992 relief operations in Florida after Hurricane Andrew and flew in support of Operation Uphold Democracy in the Bahamas during 1994. Elements of the Battalion conducted multiple tours in Bosnia Herzegovina for Operation Joint Guard in 1997 and continued peacekeeping operations later in 2001.
The Battalion experienced over 2 years of split operations and deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
The Battalion, less A Company and part of D Company, deployed in July 2002 as a composite aviation task force in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The Battalion provided combat, combat support, and combat service support to the coalition partners in order to destroy or disrupt Taliban and Al Qaeda terrorist forces. Relieved by A Company and the D Company slice, the HHC, B, C and D Companies returned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Missions in Afghanistan included inserting and extracting Scout and Long Range Surveillance teams in mountainous terrain at night using Night Vision Goggles, often on rock outcroppings too small to actually land a Black Hawk.
In September 2003, 2-82nd Aviation deployed with the 82nd Aviation Brigade to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. With 15 UH-60's and nearly 200 personnel, 2-82nd Aviation's mission was to support the 82nd Airborne Division in its charge to defeat non-compliant forces and neutralize destabilizing influences in Iraq. Their efforts contributed significantly to help create a secure environment for the people of Iraq and a safe governing backdrop for the Coalition Provisional Authority.
By June 2004, with the return of the Aviation Brigade from Iraq, the Battalion was once again whole, but not standing idly by. A massive helicopter reset program was initiated with the Battalion still managing to conduct aerial gunnery qualifications, progression flights, continuation flights, and aviation support for the Division and other Fort Bragg units. In October, B Company took over OPBAT rotations and was conducting reconnaissance and air movement operations in direct support of DEA operations to interdict the flow of drugs within the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands.
In January 2006 the entire 82nd Airborne Division began a transformation to the US Army's new modular force structure. 2-82nd Aviation remained with the reorganized and redesignated 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade.
In late 2006, 2-82nd Aviation deployed along with other elements of the 82nd Aviation Brigade returned to Iraq for another tour of duty.
In 2007 2-82nd Aviation deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
3-82 General Aviation Support Battalion
122 Aviation Support Battalion
The 122nd Aviation Support Battalion traces its roots back to 1 January 1942 when it was activated in the Regular Army as a Maintenance Battalion, 3rd Armored Division at Camp Polk. Soon after its activation, the Battalion was shipped overseas to participate in the European front. After supporting numerous campaigns in the European theater in World War II, the Battalion inactivated on 10 November 1945 in Germany. The Battalion battle streamers during World War II included Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe.
On 7 July 1947, the Battalion was re-designated as the 122nd Armored Ordnance Maintenance Battalion. A year later the 122nd was officially activated on 30 July 1948. The 122nd Armored Ordnance Maintenance Battalion relocated from Germany to Fort Knox.
On 1 July 1963, the Battalion returned to Germany and was reorganized and re-designated as the 122nd Maintenance Battalion.
After two decades supporting Cold War in Germany the Battalion inactivated on 15 December 1984. The 122d Support Battalion (Main) was later activated on 1 May 1987 in Germany and later when on to support the 3rd Armored Division in Operation Desert Shield Desert Storm. The unit was inactivated after the Campaign. On 16 June 2006, the unit was activated at Fort Bragg as the 122d Aviation Support Battalion assigned to the 82d Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division.
On 15 January 2006 the 82nd Aiborne Division began transformation to the US Army modular force structure. As a result, Company D (Aviation Intermediate Maintenance), 82nd Aviation Regiment was inactivated and reflagged as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 122nd Aviation Support Battalion.
In late 2006, elements of the 122nd Aviation Support Battalion deployed along with other elements of the 82nd Aviation Brigade deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In 2007 elements of the 122nd Aviation Support Battalion deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
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