| 166th Aviation Brigade | |
|---|---|
&sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:1st_Army.svg) Shoulder sleeve insignia of First Army, worn by the 166th Aviation Brigade | |
| Active | 1990-09-16 – 1997-07-15 1997-10-24 – 1999-10-16 2006-12-01 – 2015-06-24 2018-08-17 – Present |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | United States Army |
| Branch | United States Army Reserve |
| Type | Aviation brigade |
| Role | Training |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | Division West, First Army |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Cavazos, Texas |
| Motto(s) | Wings in the West |
| Decorations | Army Superior Unit Award |
| Battle honours | None |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | COL Darryl Von Hagel |
| Insignia | |
| Distinctive unit insignia | &sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:166th_Aviation_BDE_DUI.png) |
| Designated but not authorized shoulder sleeve insignia of the 166th Aviation Brigade | &sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:US_Army_166th_Aviation_Brigade_SSI.png) |
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The 166th Aviation Brigade is an aviation training brigade of the United States Army headquartered at Fort Cavazos, Texas.[1] It was a subordinate unit of First Army – Division West. An "AC/RC" (Active Component / Reserve Component) formation, the 166th Aviation Brigade was the sole organization responsible for the post-mobilization training of United States Army Reserve & National Guard aviation units. The unit was formerly designated as 3rd Brigade, 75th Division.
From 1997, the 166th Aviation Brigade has trained other aviation units for front-line service. As such, it has never seen combat, and has thus never earned any campaign streamers or unit awards. As the only brigade in the First Army responsible for training aviation units, the 166th Aviation Brigade is the principal unit for training Army Reserve and Army National Guard assets preparing to deploy to contingencies around the world, which means it is responsible for 47 percent of all Army Aviation assets.[2]
The 166th Aviation Brigade partnered with its First Army – Division West sister brigade, the 479th Field Artillery Brigade for its combat aviation brigade (CAB) mobilizations, but maintained validation authority, or final approval over a CAB's successful completion of mobilization training. The 166th Aviation Brigade inactivated at Fort hood on 24 June 2015.[3] The 166th Aviation Brigade reactivated at Fort Hood on 17 August 2018.[4]
- ^ "166th Aviation Brigade". Usar.army.mil. 15 August 2009. Archived from the original on 8 January 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
- ^ 166th Aviation Brigade Website, 166th Aviation Brigade Public Affairs Office. Retrieved 5 June 2009. Archived 8 June 2009.
- ^ Brigade inactivates as part of ongoing cuts for First Army Division West
- ^ http://kdhnews.com/military/aviation-training-brigade-returns-to-fort-hood/article_579a12ec-a25f-11e8-ba38-f72cdd5b7d28.html Aviation training brigade returns to Fort Hood