To keep a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter operational requires a large team of trained professionals. Skilled Soldiers trained to maintain, arm and fuel work day and night to ensure that the aircraft are ready at a moment’s notice. In recognition of their outstanding efforts in maintaining the readiness of the Apaches of Charlie Company, 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment (1-1), 1st Combat Aviation Brigade (1CAB), a mechanic, armament technician and crew chief strapped into the gunner’s seat of the aircraft that they had spent so many hours making ready.
Apache helicopters receive phased maintenance after every 500 hours of flight. This intensive maintenance cycle is critical to keeping the aircraft ready and the crews safe. It is a job that requires technical understanding and dedication to detail. The maintainers develop a certain degree of ownership with the aircraft that they work on. The brigade is currently deployed in support of Atlantic Resolve. The 1CAB is a rotational force that provides aviation support capabilities to U.S. Forces and partner nations across the European theater. The operational tempo required of the brigade means that the mechanics of the company hold to a demanding schedule.
The 1st Aviation Regiment is a task force and is a unit in the First Infantry Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade, composed of three battalion units of pilots, crews, and teams within the United States Army. The 1st Battalion (Attack Reconnaissance) “Gunfighters” was redesignated as Aviation Company, 1st Infantry Division and activated at Fort Riley, Kansas on 21 April 1972. The 1st Battalion, 1st Aviation was later reorganized and completed its AH-64 Apache unit training plan fielding on 23 April 1990. The Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division is the Army Aviation formation of the United States Army’s 1st Infantry Division.
