In June 2014 the European Reassurance Initiative (ERI) came into effect
after a visit by President Barack Obama to Poland. ERI funds Operation
Atlantic Resolve (OAR) which demonstrates the United States commitment
to peace, security and stability in Europe by deploying assets (air,
land and sea) on a rotational bases. Most of the deployments are
focussed on the central and eastern European (NATO) countries with the
deploying units commanded by US European Command (USEUCOM). The
commander of USEUCOM can request additional assets to provide for
additional security and training with allies as has been done with USAF
F-22As deploying for a few weeks to RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom.
From the January / February 2017 timeframe the US Army deployed its
first Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) and Combat Aviation Brigade
(CAB) to be deployed under ERI / ORA for a period of nine months. The
4th Infantry Division based at Fort Carson, Colorado send its 3rd ABCT
with around 3.500 personnel, tanks, fighting and other vehicles. Fort
Drum, New York based 10th CAB (10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th
Mountain Division) deployed its aviation regiments consisting of Chinook
and Blackhawk helicopters. As its own Apache regiments were not
available due to other commitments the 10th CAB regiments were
strengthend by AH-64Ds from 1-501 AVN (1st Battalion, 501st Aviation
Regiment, 1st Armored Division) from Fort Bliss, Texas.
Most of the 10th CAB
helicopters were transported from the USA by ship and arrived in the
port of Bremerhaven, Germany. After they were offloaded the rotor blades
of the helicopters were assembled and then flown to the US Army Europe
base at Illesheim. Other helicopters were shipped to the port of
Thessaloniki, Greece and from there continued to Romania or arrived as
air freight on board USAF C-5M Galaxy and C-17A Globemaster III at Riga,
Latvia, Ramstein Air Base, Germany and Nurnberg airport, Germany.
|
Helicopter |
Number |
|
Apache (AH-64D) |
24 |
|
Chinook (CH-47F) |
12 |
|
Blackhawk (HH-60M) |
15 |
|
Blackhawk (UH-60L/M) |
38 |
| |
|
|
Total |
89 |
In October 2017 10th CAB started the process of returning to the USA.
Helicopters operating in Romania were flow to Greece where this time the
port of Alexandropoli was used. A request of host nation support was
send to The Netherlands. After the Air Base surveys of Gilze-Rijen (home
to Defence Helicopter Command fleet of Apaches, Chinooks and Cougars)
and Eindhoven (home to the KDC-10, C-130 Hercules and Gulfstream G-IV)
was completed the later was selected to support the helicopters for
their final leg to the port of Rotterdam. Finally a number of
helicopters were airlifted back to the USA including eight Apaches of
the 1-501 AVN from Powidz Air Base, Poland.
At the same period in October the second US Army rotation arrived in
Europe. The 1st Air Cavalry Brigade (1 ACB) helicopters were shipped to
the port of Oostende, Belgium. From their they were flown to Chievres
Air Base before continuing there journey to Germany and further east.
The official hand over from 10th CAB to 1 ACB took place on November 7.
On November 9, 2017 10th CAB held its redeployment ceremony uncasing its
colors officialy marking the end of supporting OAR. With almost all of
its personnel returned to Fort Drum the unit is now awaiting the return
of its helicopters and other equipment from Europe.
Abbreviations:
|
Abbreviation |
Regiment |
| |
|
| ARB |
Attack Reconnaissance Battalion |
| AHB |
Assault Helicopter Battalion |
| GSAB |
General Support Aviation Battalion |
| CAV |
Cavalry |
| |
|
10th CAB is comprised of the following aviation regiments.
|
Regiment |
Aircraft |
Regiment nickname |
|
A/1-10 ARB |
AH-64D |
Rogues / Death Stalkers |
|
B/1-10 ARB |
AH-64D |
Bandits / Killer Spades |
|
C/1-10 ARB |
AH-64D |
Diamondbacks |
|
A/2-10 AHB |
UH-60M |
Voodoo |
|
B/2-10 AHB |
UH-60M |
Mountainhawks |
|
C/2-10 AHB |
UH-60M |
Warlords |
|
D/2-10 AHB |
UH-60M |
Dragonhawks |
|
A/3-10 GSAB |
UH-60L |
Arch Angels |
|
B/3-10 GSAB |
CH-47F |
Colossal |
|
C/3-10 GSAB |
HH-60M |
Blue Max |
| A/6-6
CAV |
AH-64D |
Assassins |
| B/6-6
CAV |
AH-64D |
Pale Riders |
| C/6-6
CAV |
AH-64D |
Outcast Aeroscouts |
| |
|
|
Full regiments designations (two examples):
Alpha Company, 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 10th Aviation
Regiment, 10th Mountain Division.
Alpha Company, 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment (Six Shooters). (note:
the other squadrons of 6 CAV are assigned to other Combat Aviation
Brigades).
1-501st AVN is comprised of the following aviation regiments:
|
Regiment |
Aircraft |
Regiment nickname |
| |
|
|
|
A/1-501 ARB |
AH-64D |
Peacemakers |
|
B/1-501 ARB |
AH-64D |
Death Dealers |
|
C/1-501 ARB |
AH-64D |
Pale Horse |
|
D/1-501 ARB |
AH-64D |
Dark Knights |
|
E/1-501 ARB |
|
Renegades |
| |
|
|
|
