1-25th Aviation Regiment
As part of the Army's transformation towards a modular force, the 1-25 Aviation was inactivated on June 9, 2006 and was reflagged the 2-6 Cavalry.
1st Battalion (Attack), 25th Aviation Regiment deploys worldwide to conduct attack operations and conduct limited air reconnaissance and security operations. On order, commands and controls an aviation task force.
The 1st Battalion (Attack), 25th Aviation Regiment, was originally constituted on 21 June 1963 in the Regular Army as Company A, 25th Aviation Battalion, an element of the 25th Infantry Division. Activated 12 August 1963 at Schofield Barracks, HI. It inactivated there on 15 October 1985. The unit reactivated on 16 January 1986 at Wheeler Air Force Base, HI. It was reorganized and redesignated on 16 May 1988 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Aviation, and remained assigned to the 25th Infantry Division (its organic elements were concurrently constituted and activated) [This is the lineage that was originally claimed by the unit]
As of October 2004, the The 1st Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment's claimed lineage was as follow:
The Battalion was first known as the 25th Aviation Company, which was constituted in the Regular Army on 1 February 1957 and activated in Hawaii as a unit of the 25th Infantry Division. On 12 August 1963, the company was re-designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 25th Combat Aviation Battalion. On 16 March 1966, the 25th Combat Aviation Battalion (CAB) embarked for the Republic of Vietnam (Chu Chi Air Base). During the next five years, the unit conducted combat aviation operations in support of the 25th Infantry Division. Following the redeployment, the colors were cased on 15 December 1970 in ceremonies at Schofield Barracks. On 5 April 1972, the 25th Combat Aviation Battalion was reactivated and until 1985, the 25th Combat Aviation Battalion continued to serve as a unit of the 25th Infantry Division.
The history of D Company, 25th Combat Aviation Battalion is traced from the 118th Assault Helicopter Company. The 118th was activated on 25 June 1963 in the Republic of Vietnam, having participated in fifteen campaigns. The 118th was the most highly decorated aviation company in the United States Army when it was deactivated on 16 May 1981 and D Company 25th Combat Aviation Battalion was activated. On 15 October 1985, D Company was converted to the 53rd Attack Helicopter Battalion. At that time, a decision was made to maintain the honors and lineage of the 25th Combat Aviation Battalion, and the 53rd was re-designated as the 1st Battalion (Attack), 25th Aviation Regiment under the Regimental system on 16 January 1986.
From January 1995 to April 1996, 1-25 Aviation deployed to Haiti as the Aviation Task Force Headquarters for the 25th Infantry Division (Light) during Operation Uphold Democracy. 1st Battalion (Attack), 25th Aviation Regiment was reorganized on 24 June 1999, when the last AH-1 (Cobra) Attack helicopters in the active Army were turned over to U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard Units. Between July 1999 and May 2000, 1st Battalion (Attack), 25th Aviation Regiment underwent an aircraft modernization to the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior at Ft. Hood, Texas. The unit arrived back on the island after completion of Unit Fielding and Training Program in June 2000.
From February through September 2002, Task Force 1-25 Aviation deployed to assume peacekeeping duties in Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of Task Force Eagle, SFOR 11, Operation Joint Forge. Task Force 1-25 Aviation conducted missions across the spectrum of military operations including anti-smuggling operations, reconnaissance and security operations, and special operations missions as well as numerous combined arms live-fire demonstrations. Most recently, from April through June 2003, Task Force 1-25 Aviation deployed to the Kingdom of Thailand in support of Cobra Gold 2003.
Operation Iraqi Freedom II
The unit deployed in January 2004 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Daily in Baghdad, aviators from the 1st Battalion (Attack), 25th Aviation Regiment conducted 24-hour combat operations in support of ground units from the 1st Cavalry Division. Since deploying in January 2004 from Wheeler Army Airfield, by July 8, 2004 aviators from Lightning Attack have flown more than 2,000 missions in support of coalition forces engaged with maintaining stability in the Baghdad area. Initially, the battalion was attached to the 1st Armored Division and based at Baghdad International Airport. In March, the battalion moved to Camp Cooke, north of Baghdad. In April, it was attached to the 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Hood, Texas. The primary focus is conducting reconnaissance, security and close combat attacks to enable the 1st Cavalry Division to maintain a stable and secure environment in Baghdad for the transition to the Interim Iraqi Government
A typical day started well before takeoff time for the battalion's air crews. Withstanding the 110-degree heat, they started by reporting to the Tactical Operations Center where they receive a battle update on the current enemy threat and a friendly situation brief on what operations ground units are conducting in their areas. These briefings are very detailed and provide the air crews with the necessary enemy and friendly situational awareness to ensure they can accomplish their missions.
The aviators are well equipped to fly and survive on the battlefield. Prior to deployment the unit received Second Chance Body Armor, Individual Global Positioning Systems, and the latest generation Aviation Night Vision System Night Vision Goggles the Army has to offer.
Due to the dedication and hard work of the soldiers, the battalion set new records on the number of hours flown, missions executed and aircraft readiness rates. The battalion flew more than 9,700 hours during its first four months in country, nearly twice what was flown all of the previous year.
Because there were less aircraft than there were for Operation Iraqi Freedom I, the battalion had to maintain the highest operations tempo of any aviation unit since the start of the conflict. Flying in Iraq is challenging, and pilots have to be proficient in all modes of flight. Most operations are conducted at "nap of the earth." Survivability of the aircraft is paramount to maintain stealth and gain good reconnaissance of the area.
On arrival to the objective area, the Air Mission Commander conducts a check in brief over the radio with the unit on the ground to gain situational awareness and any updates to their mission.
One mission was in support of a ground cavalry squadron from the 1st Cavalry Division. The "Regulators" of Company A, 1-25 Aviation Regiment were conducting zone reconnaissance to locate and defeat enemy forces operating in the vicinity of Camp Cooke, a former Iraqi Military Base that is now home to the soldiers of 1-25 Aviation Regiment, as well as several other units. Patrolling the skies around Camp Cooke, in conjunction with maintaining a close working relationship with ground maneuver units prevents the enemy from threatening the day-to-day operations of the base. Throughout the remainder of the day and well into the night, the battalion conducted several combat operations in the Baghdad area. That night, the other two attack companies in the battalion also had full mission schedules.
The "Ghostriders" of Company B, 1-25 Aviation Regiment, conducted several complex operations in support of one of the ground maneuver brigade's reconnaissance troops as they conducted reconnaissance to locate enemy forces.
The battalion's third attack company, the "Outlaws" of Company C, 1-25 Aviation Regiment, also conducted a critical mission, providing security in the vicinity of the international airport and surrounding areas.
The responsive and agile aviation operations they provide for the ground unit at the airport as well as to the strategic air assets of the Air Force ensure that Baghdad International, as well as key logistical functions remain secure.
When the crews near the end of their mission day, their last stop is the forward arming refuel point. They are met by a small team of soldiers who are attached to the battalion from the 25th Aviation Brigade's Headquarters Company. These soldiers are known as the "three-five" platoon, and it's their job to load up the helicopters with all of the ammunition and fuel they can take, and they do it in a matter of minutes.
Long hours of aircraft maintenance and multiple daily missions under extremely demanding and dangerous conditions characterize the typical days of soldiers of the attack battalion. The battalion's aviators and maintainers achieved many feats thought impossible before the unit's deployment.
Two soldier from the 1st Battalion, 25th Aviation, 25th Infantry Division (Light) were killed in Baghdad, Iraq on Oct. 16, 2004, when their OH-58D helicopter apparently collided with another OH-58D helicopter and crashed.
