1st Aviation Brigade
The Golden Hawks
The 1st Aviation Brigade commands three distinctly different battalions, each with a unique mission - the 1st Battalion, 13th Aviation Regiment; the 1st Battalion, 145th Aviation Regiment; and the 2d Battalion, 13th Aviation Regiment at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.
Along with its many command responsibilities, logistical support requirements, and administrative duties, the brigade’s primary mission is to train and develop future aviation warfighting leaders.
Including the lessons learned from deployed units, instructors and cadre write, review, and coordinate Army Aviation combined arms doctrine for aviation units below brigade level.
The course curriculum consists of a wide range of professional military education subjects, with emphasis on combined arms battlefield integration.
The tactical training is further reinforced with state-of-the art simulation, allowing students to assume various command and staff positions at all command levels while fighting simulated battles throughout a wide spectrum of tactical scenarios.
Equally important is the initial entry training taught to entry level Aviation Branch Soldiers. IET teaches fundamental skills for Soldiers to perform their occupational specialties in an aviation unit.
1-13th Aviation Regiment
The 1st Battalion, 13th Aviation Regiment manages new recruits fresh out of basic training here to receive their military occupational specialty identifier before reporting to their first duty station. The battalion orchestrates and implements the majority of enlisted training at Fort Rucker. The 6th Military Police Detachment and B Company and 46th Engineering Battalion are also assigned to 1-13th. Fort Rucker’s military and civilian firefighters are assigned under the 6th MP Detachment.
Courses of instruction include Utility Helicopter Repairer 15M, Observation Helicopter Repairer 15V, Air Traffic Control Specialist 15Q, Aviation Operations Specialist 15P, and the Aircraft Pneudraulics Systems Repairer Course 15H. Additionally, the battalion teaches and certifies aviation life support equipment technicians.
The curriculum encompasses job skills training, physical training, common task training, and military customs and courtesies. Training for the ATC students is further enhanced through virtual simulation. The battalion also provides operational and administrative support for graduate level aviation students returning for advanced aircraft transitions and all international students here for flight training.
The Headquarters and Headquarters Company manages the Enhanced Tower Simulator (ETOS), the newest and most advanced air traffic control simulator in the U.S. Army.
The ETOS gives ATC students a realistic experience of what it is like inside an ATC tower. As the primary trainer for the tower 1-13th Avn. Rgt. trains the Army’s ATC personnel. phase of ATC training in the Army, ETOS is used to train Soldiers in initial entry training on how to safely and expeditiously move aircraft to, from, and through designated airspace in a simulated, virtual environment.
Most of the training uses virtual landscape with high fidelity images of aircraft and the airfield, including the runway, hangars, nearby trees, and ground vehicles. The weather system, vehicles, stars, lights, sun, and rain are just like the real thing, and voice recognition software helps students to learn.
ETOS can simulate almost every aircraft in the U.S. military inventory and civilian commercial aircraft. The training at Fort Rucker can apply to ATC operations at military airfields or civilian airports worldwide.
1-145th Aviation Regiment
The 1st Battalion, 145th Aviation Regiment focuses on leader development and professional education of branch officers and Warrant Officers. Courses include the Aviation Basic Officer Leadership Course and Captain’s Career Course for branch officers; the Warrant Officer Basic Course and Advanced Course for warrant officers; Maintenance Manager’s Course; Maintenance Leader’s Course; Aviation Tactical Operations Officer Course; Helicopter Overwater Survival Training, Aviation Pre-Command Course for Lieutenant Colonels and Colonels slated to take command of a battalion or brigade; and the management of all branch and Warrant Officers during their attendance of the initial entry rotary-wing flight training course. Additionally, 1-145th commands the U.S. Army’s Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Level C Training Detachment. 98th Army "Silver Wings" Band is also attached to the battalion.
Small group instruction is provided in a classroom environment. Field exercises include troop leading procedures, safety, and tactical and technical aspects involving employment of aviation assets as part of the total combined arms force. Use of advanced constructive simulation tools, such as JANUS and brigade and battalion simulation in the Seneff Aviation Warfighting Simulation Center, enhances the student officer’s battle staff skills.
Use of state-of-the-art virtual flight simulators in the Aviation Test Bed offers junior aviation leaders the opportunity to develop air battle command skills.
Pilots and crew members receive training about aircraft ditching and underwater egress survival techniques. Pilot and crew members train with a device that dunks individuals underwater, so the know how to react during an emergency.
2-13th Aviation Regiment
The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Training Battalion Provisional was activated on April 19, 2006 during the transition of authority for Unmanned Aircraft Systems training from the U.S. Army Intelligence Center to the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence. On June 14, 2011, UASTB was designated 2nd Battalion, 13th Aviation Regiment.
The battalion operates the largest UAS training center in the world, training approximately 2,000 Soldiers, Marines and foreign military students annually with over 125,000 square feet of training space, four hangars and three runways.
Delta Company is responsible for the development and administration of five programs of instruction: Shadow UAS Repairer, Hunter UAS Repairer, UAS Operator Common Core, 1500 UAS Warrant Officer Technician, and UAS Unit Commander and Staff Officer Course. The company also serves as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company providing personnel, logistics, information technology, flight line maintenance and emergency medical support to the battalion.
A Company is comprised of Initial Entry Training and MOS-T Soldiers. The company is responsible for the health and welfare of the Soldiers and all other associated duties.
B Company conducts Shadow and Hunter UAS Operator training. Daily flight operations are performed out of Rugge-Hamilton and Pioneer Airfields.
C Company executes Warrior-A Operator training and Gray Eagle UAS Operator and Repairer training. Daily flight operations are conducted out of Libby Army Airfield.
The battalion is also responsible for the annual training of two MQ-1C Quick Reaction Capability companies that deploy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
98th Army "Silver Wings" Band
The 98th Army “Silver Wings” Band has a variety of performing groups that include the Concert Band, “Jazz Aviators” Stage Band, Marching Band, Dixieland Band, Brass Quintet, Jazz Combo and the Rock Band “Crossfire.”
On post, the Silver Wings Band has performed for annual holiday concerts at the Post Theater, July 4th Freedom Fests, change of command, Easter Sunrise Services on Howze Field, Nation Prayer Breakfasts, graduation ceremonies at the Army Aviation Museum, Installation Tree Lighting Ceremonies, Heritage Month observances in Aviators’ Landing, Memorial Day Ceremonies at Veterans’ Park and Bldg. dedications.
Off post, the Silver Wings Band has performed for holiday concerts at the Marina Civic Center in Panama City, FL; holiday parades throughout Alabama and Northwest Florida; civic functions throughout the Wiregrass and educational tours coordinated with recruiting battalions.
Additionally, the Silver Wings Band performs jointly with Army Reserve bands, individual singers and choral groups in the Wiregrass and throughout Alabama and Florida.
For more information, call 255-9202.
