3-58th Aviation Regiment
The 58th Aviation Regiment consists solely of ATC battalions. The 3d Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment is responsible for air traffic control at five USAREUR airfields and three NATO airfields. The battalion operates in 17 installations covering a distance of more than 35,000 square miles. Using tactical equipment, the 3d Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment can provide air traffic control for military operations in areas without existing airports. They also work in established facilities during peacekeeping operations.
On order, 3rd Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment transitions to task force operation to provide command and control, ATS, and A2C2 support to aviation operations throughout EUCOM and CENTCOM AORs. The 3d Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment, 12th Aviation Brigade, has soldiers stationed in Wiesbaden, Hanau, Ansbach and Grafenwoehr, Germany. These soldiers provide installation air traffic services for five U.S. Army and three NATO airfields throughout Germany. The 3d Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment has the dual mission of air traffic control in Germany and combat air traffic services to V Corps.
3-58TH Aviation had it's beginning at Echterdingen Army Air Field as the 16th AOD (Air Operation Detachment) in October 1961.
It moved to Nellingen Kaserne in September 1963 and was redesignated as the 14th Army Air Traffic Regulation and Identification Company (ATC) in October 1965. The unit moved to Schwaebisch Hall in December 1966. In May 1975 the 14th Aviation Company (ATC) became the 14th Aviation Unit (ATC) and came under the control of the 5th Signal Command. In October 1978 the 14th was deactivated and the 59th ATC Battalion assumed the mission of the 14th with additional requirements to support 2 Army Corps and the Army theater with combat support air traffic control.
Since its activation the battalion has won many awards, including the Army Aviation Association of America's (AAAA) "Outstanding Aviation Unit of the Year 1980". The aviation section won USAREUR AAAA Aviation Detachment of the Year in 1982 and 1985. Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment won the United States Army Communications Command's (USACC) Best Maintenance Award (TOE Light) in 1982 and 1985. The Army Flight Operations detachment won the USAREUR AAAA Aviation Detachment of the Year in 1983. The 187th ATC Company (Forward), 189th ATC Company (Forward) and the 240th ATC Company (COMMZ) all won 5th Signal Command's Award of Maintenance excellence in 1984. Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment was the Information Systems Command Worldwide TOE Light Maintenance Unit of the Year for 1986.
In October 1986 the battalion was transferred to US Army Europe as a major subordinate command, subordinate to the DCINC, USAREUR/7th Army. On 16 July 1987 the 59th ATC Battalion was deactivated and reactivated as the 3rd ATC Battalion 58th Aviation Regiment. The 58th was organized as an aviation battalion in 1968 at Long Binh, Republic of Vietnam. It was a parent unit to the 125th Aviation Company (ATC) and to a special operations unit. Formal recognition for its reactivation as an aviation regiment was on 1 September 1987 at Ft. Bragg, NC. The 58th Battalion was awarded 4 battle streamers and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, for participation in campaigns in the Republic of Vietnam.
The Battalion has also been awarded 2 battle streamers for its participation in the liberation of Kuwait and defense of Saudi Arabia in Operations Desert Shield and Storm. The Battalion has also had a significant role in operation Provide Comfort I and II in Southern Turkey and Northern Iraq.
On 23 June 1993, the battalion was reassigned to V Corps' 12th Aviation Brigade, and its headquarters relocated to Wiesbaden. It retained the dual mission of operating installation ATS facilities at USAREUR's airfields and providing tactical ATS for aviation units in V Corps, Southern European Task Force, and 21st TAACOM. On 10 December 1995, the battalion deployed a tactical GCA section to Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and established operations in support of NATO's Implementation Force. This element was the first U.S. Army Aviation unit to operate in the former Yugoslavia. Company E, 58th Aviation Regiment, augmented with soldiers from the entire battalion, continues to operate in Hungary, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina, in support of Operation Joint Endeavor.
During 1999 the unit operated in the Balkans, the Mediterranean coastal region, Africa, the Middle East and the Persian Gulf. Soldiers of the 3d Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment handled over 350,000 aircraft movements that included multi-national, multi-service aircraft without a single incident or mishap during 1999. While members of the organization were deployed in support of ongoing V Corps and U.S. Army Europe and European Command missions, support continued in the fixed facilities in Germany. Within Germany, the 3d Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment conducted over 1,000 aircraft movements a day in Fiscal Year 1999 without incident.
Safety is part of the unit motto (Safe, Orderly and Expeditious), and in FY99, the battalion safely conducted more than 336,000 aircraft movements within Germany. The soldiers deployed to Albania were involved with 22,815 multinational, multi-service aircraft movements. In total, they logged over 350,000 aircraft movements without a single incident or mishap during the year. While the battalion headquarters is located in Wiesbaden, other members of the unit can be found in places like Heidelberg, Grafenwoehr, Hohenfels, Giebelstadt and Hanau. This means a lot of travel for the soldiers in the unit. During 1999, the soldiers of the 3d Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment traveled over 345,000 miles with only one minor accident.
The battalion exceeded its goal for reenlistment in FY99. Soldiers who were reenlisting for the first time totaled 140 percent. For soldiers who reenlisted at mid-career the number was even higher at 145 percent. Along with the air traffic controllers assigned to the unit, there are soldiers and civilians maintaining all the equipment the battalion uses. Last year, the 3d Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment designed and implemented a fiber optic video system for a radar unit originally produced in the 1950s. The yearly rate of readiness for their vehicles was 95 percent. Additionally, they saved the Army $150,000 by repairing AN/FSC-92 communications switching systems cards in Germany, rather than sending them to the U.S for repair.
Every military aircraft in the European theater flies and lands based on data given to them by this unit. They run airfields throughout Germany, and Operation Steel Forge gave these soldiers an opportunity to show the mobility of their airfield operations. The 3rd Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment sent its five companies to three different locations in Germany during Operation Steel Forge Jan. 18-22, 2000. Airfields were set up in Kitzingen and Schweinfurt, with the headquarters company locating at Coleman Barracks in Mannheim. Using a scenario of a deployment to the Balkans, Operation Steel Forge showed that 3-58 is prepared for any deployment.
The battalion, consisting of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Companies A, B and C, and Company E (COMMZ), 58th Aviation Regiment, is the only forward deployed air traffic services battalion in the U.S. Army. The unit is proud of its 35 years of history and tradition in support of USAREUR aviation operations. In 1995, the battalion was recognized by AAAA with the Robert M. Leich Award for outstanding service to Army Aviation. The soldiers and civilians of the battalion vigilantly guard the skies over "Victory Corps." They are, "Victory's Guardians!"
A Company is located at Hanau Army Airfield. It is in support of 4th Aviation Brigade, 1st Armor Division. The company's past missions have included rotations in Bosnia, and more recently in support of Task Force Hawk in Albania/ Macedonia and Operation Joint Guardian II in Kosovo. The company consists of a fixed base facility section to include the tower and Ground Control Approach (GCA), a tactical platoon which utilizes the various tactical equipment to include the Tactical Terminal Control System (TTCS), and a headquarters platoon.
C Company handles multiple missions at once, manning the Wiesbaden and Heidelberg Army Airfields on a daily basis.. In addition to those missions, they augment the rest of the battalion when called upon to deploy in a V Corps/USAREUR mission. Operation Steel Forge gave C Company and the rest of the battalion the opportunity to set up its 60-foot air traffic control tower, radar and other equipment needed to conduct air traffic services in the field. The 60-foot antenna and air traffic control tower provide aircraft with directions, radio communication and ground control approach in any field environment. Among the many tools of this tower is a high frequency radio. In addition to setting up and providing air traffic services for the exercise, C Company trained its soldiers, certifying them on different pieces of equipment.
The Traffic Tower Control System provides the capability to move in, set up a quick air traffic services tower and man helicopters in a (Forward Arming and Refueling Points) type situation where they come in and refuel. It offers the aviation community a little bit more mobility as far as controlling traffic. Soldiers from 3-58 Aviation continue to serve the Germany airfields while providing air traffic services in Bosnia and Hungary. B Company from Ansbach also recently returned from service in Kosovo. Whether stationed in Germany or deployed in support of USAREUR missions, 3-58 Aviation is there making sure that military aircraft, personnel and supplies arrive safely.
