101st Combat Aviation Brigade The 101st Combat Aviation Brigade is a combat aviation brigade of the United States Army . It was first organized in July 1968 as an aviation group and stands as the most decorated aviation unit in the United States Army . It was redesignated an aviation brigade in 1986 . It has served in almost every single military operation ( combat , peacekeeping , and humanitarian ) since the Vietnam War . In support of the Global War on Terror , the 101st CAB has distinguished itself as the military ' s premiere combat aviation unit during its two deployments to Iraq ( 2003 and 2005 ) and four deployments to Afghanistan ( 2002 , 2007 , 2010 , and 2012 ) . The brigade has flown hundreds of thousands of hours during these combat tours , transporting millions of troops around the battlefield and providing close air support / aerial reconnaissance . The 101st broke its own record for longest air assault in history during the invasion of Iraq in 2003 . Previously , the longest air assault was conducted in 1991 during Operation Desert Storm . Vietnam . On 1 July 1968 , at Camp Eagle in the Republic of Vietnam , the 160th Aviation Group was constituted with elements of the 2nd Squadron , 17th Cavalry Regiment ; the 101st Aviation Battalion ( Assault Helicopter ) ; the 158th Aviation Battalion ( Assault Helicopter ) ; and the 159th Aviation Battalion ( Assault Helicopter ) . Less than a year later , on 25 June 1969 , the 160th Aviation Group was redesignated as the 101st Aviation Group . Post - Vietnam Reorganization . On 15 August 1986 , the 101st Aviation Assault Group was again redesignated as the 101st Aviation Brigade . The 101st Aviation Brigade was deployed to Saudi Arabia following Iraq ’ s invasion of Kuwait in 1990 . The 101st fired the first shots of the Persian Gulf War from AH - 64 Apache s under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Richard " Dick " Cody who would later serve as the 31st Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army . Through the 1990s , the Brigade deployed elements to Somalia , Kuwait , Bosnia , Kosovo , and Honduras to defend democracy and assist in hurricane relief operations . On 9 October 1997 , 101st Aviation Brigade ( largest aviation brigade in the Army at the time ) split its nine battalions into two brigades , the 101st Aviation Brigade ( Attack ) and the 159th Aviation Brigade ( Assault ) . Upon return from its Iraq deployment , the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade was finally restructured to its current form . It now consists of a battalion of AH - 64D Apache Longbows ( 1st Battalion ) , a battalion / squadron of OH - 58D Kiowa Warrior s ( 2 / 17th Cavalry ) , an assault battalion of UH - 60M Black Hawks ( 5th Battalion ) , a general support battalion of CH - 47F Chinook s , UH - 60A Black Hawk s , and UH - 60L Black Hawk s ( 6th Battalion ) , and an aviation support battalion ( 96th ASB ) . The 159th Aviation Brigade ( Assault ) underwent a similar transformation and is currently known as the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade and is also based out of Fort Campbell , Kentucky . The 101st Airborne Division is the only division in the military to have two aviation brigades , making it the most flexible and lethal division in the world . Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom . Beginning in January 2002 , the brigade responded to the call to arms in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan following the attacks on 9 / 11 . The 101st was the first conventional aviation asset deployed after 9 / 11 . The 101st would support the 187th Infantry Regiment ( 3rd BCT of the 101st Airborne Division ) , fighting Taliban and Al - Qaeda forces . In February 2003 , the brigade was again alerted to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom . The brigade crossed the berm into Iraq on 21 March 2003 , to launch deep attacks , as well as guard the V Corps ’ western flank . The brigade facilitated the liberation of three major cities and the coalition forces ’ march on Baghdad . After the brigade ’ s redeployment in the spring of 2004 , it transformed into an effort to create a self - sustaining combat aviation brigade . Completely transformed , the brigade once again answered the nation ’ s call in August 2005 and began its second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom . Headquartered out of COB Speicher in Tikrit , the brigade provided full - spectrum aviation support to the 101st Airborne Division ( Air Assault ) and its five brigade combat teams that were arrayed across 131 , 000 square kilometers of the Band of Brothers ’ area of operation . During this deployment , the 101st innovated a unique strategy dubbed Eagle Watch , using its aircraft to conduct effective vehicle interdictions using its UH - 60 Black Hawk helicopters and Pathfinders . In December 2007 , the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade , Task Force Destiny , deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom . Headquartered out of Bagram Airfield , the brigade task force provided full - spectrum aviation support to CJTF - 82 , CJTF - 101 , CJSOTF and International Security Assistance Force , covering an area of responsibility the size of Texas . Deploying to Afghanistan again , this time to Kandahar Airfield in February 2010 after having their dwell period cut short by four months , Task Force Destiny ’ s arrival coincided with the anticipated introduction of the " surge " of forces announced by the commander in chief three months earlier . Task Force Shadow , stationed out of Kandahar along with Brigade HQ , provided support to all of RC South but most notably the 502nd Infantry Regiment as they secured the Arghandab River Valley . The Arghandab River Valley was the site of some of the toughest and bloodiest fighting since the war began in Afghanistan . Over the course of the combat deployment , TF Shadow ( A co . 6 - 101 , B co . 6 - 101 , B co . 5 - 101 , C co . 6 - 101 , A & C trp . 2 - 17 ) conducted multiple combat operations , including reconnaissance , support of troops in contact , air assaults , combat resupply operations , support of Special Operations Forces , MEDEVAC , and many training flights in expanding current aviation capacity . Task Force Destiny Soldiers assisted the Shadow aviation units by conducted refueling at operating bases across the country 24 hours a day to ensure all supported ground forces retained flexibility in their operations . Current Role and Structure . Since the brigade ' s restructuring in 2004 , the 101st CAB has become a self - sufficient aviation unit . It has successfully utilized the Task Force format in its 2008 , 2010 , and 2012 deployments to Afghanistan . In keeping with the traditions by the 101st Airborne Division of using card suits to distinguish subordinate units , the brigade is represented by the diamond ( ♦ ) on their helmets . The 101st Combat Aviation Brigade currently consists of the following units : - HHC ( Avengers ) < br > - A co . ( Spectres ) < br > - B co . ( Bearcats ) < br > - C co . ( Paladins ) < br > - D co . ( Dragonslayers ) < br > - E co . ( Executioners ) - HHC ( Raiders ) < br > - A co . ( Phoenix ) < br > - B co . ( Lancers ) < br > - C co . ( Phantoms ) < br > - D co . ( Ghostriders ) < br > - E co . ( Renegades ) < br > - F co . ( Torch ) ( Pathfinder ) - HHC ( Iron Eagles ) < br > - A co . ( Warlords ) < br > - B co . ( Pachyderms ) < br > - C co . ( Shadow Dustoff ) < br > - D co . ( Witchdoctors ) < br > - E co . ( Trailblazers ) < br > - F co . ( Sky Masters ) - HHT ( Headhunters ) < br > - A trp . ( Annihilators ) < br > - B trp . ( Banshee ) < br > - C trp . ( Condors ) < br > - D trp . ( Dirty Delta ) < br > - E trp . ( Iron Horse ) < br > - F trp . ( Firehawk ) - HSC ( Blacksheep ) < br > - A co . ( Roadrunners ) < br > - B co . ( Big Ugly ) < br > - C co . ( CIPHER )