Photo By Sgt. Jonathan Thibault | Lt. Col. Stephen M. Gilbertson, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Brandon Perry,...... read more read more
FORT CARSON, Colo. - After being constituted into the regular Army in 1916, an honored cavalry regiment became part of 4th Combat Aviation Brigade during a reflagging ceremony held at Founders Field, Oct. 16, 2015.
1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th CAB, 4th Infantry Division, reflagged to become 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, as part of an Army wide aviation restructuring initiative, said Col. Lori Robinson, commander, 4th CAB.
“Having served with 6-17 in my previous assignments in Hawaii and Alaska, I am truly honored to have this unit as a part of 4th CAB,” Robinson said. “There is no doubt in my mind that the redesignation for the Soldiers on the field today will be easy because they have already been ‘out front’ since they activated at Fort Carson.”
Maj. Curtis J. Unger, battalion operations officer, 6th Sqdn, 17th Cav. Reg., 4th CAB, said the reflagging ceremony is not only a symbol of change with respect to unit designation and the lineage that takes form but more importantly it represents the increased capabilities for 4th Inf. Div. and the Army.
“While the mission sets remain the same, our capabilities have been enhanced with the addition of the Shadow Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) being integrated across our flight company formations,” said Unger. “This welcomed asset allows our unit to effectively leverage new and innovative aviation technologies to conduct manned and unmanned teaming operations between our Shadow and Apache airframes.”
Unger said combining UAS and Apache integration, with the tactical knowledge of the aeroscouts behind the controls, provides a more lethal capability to support the ground maneuver commander.
“The unit has already been integrating these capabilities into our training over the last two years,” said Unger. “This reflagging ceremony solidifies the transformation from an Attack Reconnaissance Battalion to an Attack Reconnaissance Squadron.”
Besides having one of the first female U.S. Army Ranger School graduates, 1st Lt. Shaye Haver, the squadron has already been leading the way for Army Aviation, said Maj. Tanner Spry, battalion executive officer, 6th Sqdn., 17th Cav. Reg.
“We are leading the way in manned and unmanned teaming and expeditionary operations by being the first to execute training on remote hellfire engagements between Shadow unmanned aerial systems, aeroscouts and attack aircraft at the U.S. Army National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California,” said Spry. “We were the first to conduct an aeroscout UAS gunnery and expeditionary UAS. We have also produced the first three aeroscout UAS operators to graduate from the Army Cavalry Leader Course.”
“Although the 1-4 ARB’s battalions become squadrons and their companies become troops — as well as Stetsons and spurs and a lot of red and white paint will become more prevalent — I know the essence of the unit, hard work and dedication of the Soldiers standing before you will remain unchanged,” said Robinson.
| Date Taken: | 10.16.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 10.30.2015 00:46 |
| Story ID: | 180395 |
| Location: | FORT CARSON, COLORADO, US |
| Web Views: | 1,396 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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