168th Aviation Regiment (United States)

168th Aviation Regiment

A CH-47 Chinook from 1-168th GSAB performing a "flag drag"

Active| 1987/88-present
Country| United States
Branch| United States Army Aviation Branch
Type| Aviation
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 Major| CSM Michael Luna
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia|
Aircraft flown
Utility helicopter| UH-60L Black Hawk
Transport| CH-47 Chinook

Military unit

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

## History[edit]

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[edit]

* 1st Battalion (General Support):[2]
* Headquarters and Headquarters Company
* Detachment 1
* Detachment 2 (OR ARNG)[3]
* Detachment 3 (CO ARNG)[4]
* Company A at Gowen Field Air National Guard Base (ID ARNG)[5]
* Company B[1]
* Detachment 1 (OR ARNG)[3]
* Detachment
* Company C (UH-60) (CA ARNG)
* Detachment 1 (MedEvac) (CO ARNG)[4]
* Detachment 2 (ID ARNG)[6]
* Company D
* Detachment 1
* Detachment 2 (OR ARNG)[3]
* Detachment 3 (CO ARNG)[4]
* Company E
* Detachment 1 (WA ARNG)[7]
* Detachment 2 (OR ARNG)[3]
* Detachment 3 (CO ARNG)[4]
* Detachment 1, Company B, 351st Aviation Support Battalion[1]
* Company F (Air Traffic Services)

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b c d "Pendleton". Oregon National Guard. 24 December 2016. Archived from the original on 25 December 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
4. ^ a b c d "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.