1st Battalion - 159th Aviation Regiment
On order, 1st Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment deploys worldwide to conduct aviation operations in support of the XVIII Airborne Corps' global contingency mission.
Although a Command Aviation Battalion by TOE/MTOE, the battalion conducts air assaults by direction of the Corps Commander. In addition, all UH60 crews and OH58D crews from Delta Company (MSARNG) perform tactical reconnaissance. While not on the unit's METL, the battalion maintains oversight of the Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) program, an initiative by the Corps Commander to plan and develop a CSAR capability for the Corps by September 2002. While the unit focuses its efforts on training over its most complex mission essential task, air assault operations, it is constantly demonstrating our unique ability to serve as the XVIII Airborne Corps' Contingency Aviation Battalion as it takes on missions that are increasingly different and challenging.
1st Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment was originally constituted on 1 July 1968, in the regular army as Company A, 159th Aviation Battalion, an element of the 101st Airborne Division, and activated in Vietnam.
The regiment distinguished itself through participation in the Tet counteroffensive, counteroffensive phase V, counteroffensive phase VI, summer-fall offensive, winter-spring offensive, sanctuary counteroffensive, consolidation I and consolidation II.
During these actions, the unit was awarded the Valorous Unit Award and the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal. On 6 October 1987, after 19 years of service, Company A, 159th Aviation Battalion was inactivated.
On 4 June 1987, the 118th Aviation Battalion was formed by reassignment of personnel and equipment from the 18th Aviation Company of the 269th Aviation Battalion, the Aviation Platoon of the 35th Signal Brigade and C Company, 82d Aviation Battalion. The designation of the 118th Aviation Battalion was an interim designation while the unit waited its affiliation under the US Army Regimental System with the 159th Aviation Regiment. drawing its lineage and heritage from its distinguished predecessor of the Vietnam era, the 118th Command Aviation Battalion. It was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment on 16 November 1987.
The battalion deployed in 1997 and 1999 to support Operation Joint Guard and Operation Joint Forge respectively.
1st Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment became a multiple-component organization on 17 February 2000.
