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160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)

Unit Profile

The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) provides aviation support to Army special operations forces. The Regiment consists of modified OH-6 light observation helicopters, MH-60 utility helicopters, and MH-47 medium-lift helicopters. The capabilities of the 160th SOAR have been evolving since the early 1980s. Shortly after the failed hostage rescue mission, Desert One, in Iran, the Army formed a special aviation unit. The unit drew on some of the best aviators in the Army and immediately began an intensive training program in low-level, night operations. The unit became a battalion of its own on October 16, 1981. Designated the 160th Aviation Battalion, the unit was popularly known as Task Force 160 because of the constant attachment and detachment of units to prepare for a wide variety of missions. Its focus on night operations resulted in the nickname, "The Night Stalkers." On May 16, 1990 the unit was reorganized, designated the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), and assigned to the US Army Special Operations Command.

Organization

The 160th SOAR(A) is based at Fort Campbell, KY and is composed of four active duty battalions and one forward deployed company. Its battalions include the Fort Campbell based 1/160 which flies the AH-6, MH-6, MH-60K and MH-60L DAP; the Fort Campbell based 2/160 which flies the MH-47E; the Ft. Campbell based 4/160 Special Operations Aviation Support battalion; and the Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, GA, based 3/160 which flies the MH-60L and MH-47D. D/160 consists of five MH-60Ls based at Ft. Kobbe, Panama. Although all Army aviation units have an inherent capability to support special operations, the units of the 160th SOAR(A) have been specifically designated by the Secretary of Defense to be prepared, trained, nd task organized for special operations mission support. The 160 th SOAR(A) organizes, trains, quips, validates, employs, sustains, and maintains air assets for worldwide deployment and assignment to theater CINCs for conducting direct action, special reconnaissance, and other special operations.

Army special operations aviation assets conduct specialized aviation operations in conjunction with other special operations forces. These operations include the use of dedicated aviation assets to:

· Insert, extract, and resupply SOF.

· Conduct armed escort, reconnaissance, surveillance, and electronic warfare in support of SOF missions.

· Provide C3 for SOF elements.

· Provide general support aviation during peacetime and contingency operations.

The most frequent mission is clandestine penetration for the insertion, extraction, and resupply of SOF by air.

Background

Shortly after the failed hostage rescue mission, Desert One, in Iran, the Army formed a special aviation unit. The unit originally was formed of attachments from the 229th Aviation Battalion and the 159th Aviation Battalion, immediately entered into a period of intensive night flying and quickly became the Army's premier night fighting aviation force and the Army's only Special Operations Aviation force. The unit drew on some of the best aviators in the Army and immediately began an intensive training program in low-level, night operations. The unit became a battalion of its own on October 16, 1981. Designated the 160th Aviation Battalion, the unit was popularly known as Task Force 160 because of the constant attachment and detachment of units to prepare for a wide variety of missions. Its focus on night operations resulted in the nickname, "The Night Stalkers." On May 16, 1990 the unit was reorganized, designated the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), and assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command.

The reckless and senseless destruction of Kuwait was met by the swift introduction of Special Operations Aviation into the Southwest Asia theater of operations. Both operations proved the 160th's ability to conduct complicated night and sustained combat operations as a Unit against a determined enemy. In October 1993, while supporting the requirements of the National Command Authority, Night Stalkers engaged an unconventional hostile force under the direction of gang leader, Farah Aideed. The soldiers of the 160th entered into an 18-hour firelight of an intensity that had not been encountered since Vietnam. The dedicated efforts exhibited by these soldiers to overcome adversity and rescue fellow comrades once again demonstrated that Night Stalkers don't quit. The courageous response of the Army's only special operations aviation unit has successfully deterred aggressive and provocative threats by those who seek harm upon our country, bolstered national morale and prestige, and support national foreign policy goals.

The Regiment currently consists of three battalions. The 1st and 2nd Battalions are located at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, while the 3rd Battalion is located at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. The organizational structure of the 160th SOAR allows the Regiment to quickly tailor its unique assets to meet mission requirements of special operations forces.

The 160th SOAR actively seeks and assigns the best-qualified aviators and support soldiers available in the Army. The unique mission of the unit requires that it work closely with the Army Personnel Command in the recruitment process. Once assigned, incoming officers and enlisted soldiers go through Basic Mission Qualification. The Officer Qualification Course lasts 14 weeks while the Enlisted Qualification Course is three weeks in duration. Two other qualification levels exist, Fully Mission Qualified and Flight Lead. Associated progression times are 12-18 months and 36-48 months respectively.