3-6 Cavalry Squadron (EABH-3-6)
On order, 3-6 Cav transitions to war, conducts security operations along the flanks of Combined Forces Command(CFC) in the Republic of Korea(ROK). On order, attacks to disrupt, attrit, or destroy North Korean Army(NKA) forces/targets in support of CFC campaign.
In the Korean theater, by 1999 the three Apache battalions were dedicated to missions critical to the OPLAN: support of 2d Infantry Division operations (1-2 Aviation), and anti-special operations forces (anti-SOF) and deep attack operations (1-6 and 3-6 Cavalry). Although the DPRK Scud Belt is within range of Combined Forces Command (CFC) attack helicopters, it is highly unlikely that an attack helicopter battalion will be dedicated solely to Theater Missile Defense [TMD] operations due to prioritization.
After six years of duty at Camp Humphreys, the 3rd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Brigade folded its colors to begin the transition from Korea to Fort Hood, Texas. In traditional cavalry style, the colors were carried by horseback to an awaiting AH-64D Longbow helicopter, signifying the transition the cavalry has taken, and continues to take -- the next move forward is equipping the unit with the new Longbow helicopter.
This transition was part of the ongoing Army transformation that is replacing all AH-64A model Apache helicopters with the D model. In order to accomplish this mission, all the Apaches from 3rd Squadron were sent back to the United States in early May.
The unit colors will go back to Fort Hood, Texas, where the unit will stand up with the same name, but as a Longbow squadron, in August.
Once transition training for the new helicopter is complete in the summer of 2003, the unit will return to Camp Humphreys with its new aircraft to continue their mission of providing a screening force on the peninsula's western coast.
While most of the pilots will head for Fort Hood for transition training, some of the squadron soldiers will transfer to other units in Korea where they complete their tour. Others will leave Korea and head to their next assignment. A small group of about 20 soldiers will stay and take care of equipment the squadron leaves behind as it heads for Texas.
The 3rd Squadron, 6th Cavalry was constituted on the 4th of May 1861 as Company C, 3rd Cavalry. On the 3rd of August of that year, it was redesignated as Company C, 6th Cavalry. The Squadron participated with its parent regiment in the Civil War as part of the Army of the Potomac, the Indian Wars, the War with Spain, the China Relief Expedition, the Philippine Insurrection, the Mexican Expedition, World War I, and World War II. During World II the unit served as part of Patton's Third Army, where the 6th became affectionately known as Patton's "Household Cavalry".
On 09 Jul 1944, the unit marched as part of the Regiment when it landed in France. During the push through Germany, the Regiment was utilized as a line division and earned five battle streamers and the Presidential Unit Citation at the Harlange Pocket. The unit became Troop F, 28thCavalry Reconnaissance Squadron and later Troop E. In the reorganization of 1948, the unit rejoin the 6th Cavalry Regiment as Company C. The unit moved to Fort Knox, KY on 24 May 1960, where it stayed until its deactivation on 24 October 1963. The unit was then reactivated at Fort Meade, Maryland on 23 March 1967 and remained active until 21 June 1973 when it was deactivated at Fort Bliss, Texas.
On 16 July 1986, the 3rd Squadron, 6th Cavalry came back into being with the redesignation of the 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry, four days after it had became the first unit to receive teh AH-64A Apache helicopter. The 7-17th Cavalry returned to Ft. Hood, TX after a distinguished tour in Vietnam to become the United States Army's only Attack Helicopter Squadron, with more AH-1 Cobras than any other unit; hence the name "HEAVY CAV".
Due to the inactivation of the 4th and the 1st Squadrons, the 3rd Squadron received the Regimental colors on 15 December 1996. Shortly after, the Squadron received orders to deploy to the Republic of Korea. On 11 February 1996, 3rd Squadron completed its transition to the Aviation Restructuring Initiative (ARI) MTOE with teh delivery of the last four AH-64As from the McDonnell-Douglas factory in Mesa, AZ.
The Squadron, consisting of 24 Apaches, stands ready to fight at Camp Humphreys, Korea. Its mission, to provide a screening force on the peninsula's Western coast and to serve as an Eight United States Army asset anytime and anywhere on the peninsula.
The unit's personnel and 21 AH-64 A Apache helicopters left Korea August 2002 to attend the Unit Fielding and Training Program at Fort Hood, Texas. While there, the Apache's were upgraded from the A model to the D (Longbow) model and the unit's personnel went through eight months of advanced training.
The unit and their Apaches returned to Korea at the end of May 2003. The 8th U.S. Army’s Multi-Functional Aviation Brigade (MFAB) was officially formed as the 2nd Aviation Brigade -- 16 June 2005 marked the activation the 2nd Multi-Functional Aviation Brigade (MFAB). The newly consolidated aviation unit includes Apache Longbow attack helicopters, UH-60 Blackhawk utility helicopters, CH-47 Chinook medium lift helicopters and manages the Eighth Army C-12 Huron (fixed wing aircraft) detachment. The battalion was previously assigned to the 6th Cavalry.
The valleys of Rodriguez Range echoed with the thunderous roar of Apache helicopters, powerful rockets and machine guns. Soldiers of the 3rd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment conducted helicopter crew qualifications 31 October 2005. This training exercise is to evaluate tables 7 and 8. Four tables, two on each day and night, are conducted by every aircrew. They fire to stationary and moving targets. It is primarily focused on the three engagements: diving fire, running fire and hovering fire. The crews spent a lot of time on each engagement. However, it is challenging both mentally and physically. To actually shoot, the crews needed to go through many procedures. The Soldiers had a written test about the helicopter. They also were trained in the Longbow Cockpit Trainer to experience the actual shooting.
Soldiers in the arming and refueling point become busier as an Apache landed. The forklifts with rockets load up the Apache, wanting more fire. There are a lot of moving pieces in the arming and refueling point both day and night. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes to load it up. As they handle ammunition and fuel, safety is emphasized. We rehearse and give out safety briefings everyday to stay safe.
