3rd Aviation Regiment ( United States ) The 3rd Aviation Regiment is an aviation regiment of the U . S . Army . It operates the Boeing AH - 64 Apache attack helicopter , Sikorsky UH - 60 Black Hawk helicopter , and Boeing CH - 47 Chinook helicopter . It has been associated with the 3rd Infantry Division ( United States ) for some time . Originally designated the 3rd Aviation Company ( Combat ) the unit was activated and assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division on 1 July 1957 at Fort Benning , Georgia . On 5 June 1963 , the 3rd Aviation Battalion was activated and deployed to Southeast Asia . On 16 December 1974 , the Battalion was officially designated as the first USAREUR Divisional Aviation Battalion . In April 1981 , the 3rd Aviation Battalion ( Combat ) relocated from Kitzingen Army Airfield to Giebelstradt Army Airfield . On 16 November 1984 , it was provisionally activated as the U . S . Army ' s first Combat Aviation Brigade in a Mechanized Infantry Division . The brigade was officially activated on 15 March 1985 as 4th Brigade , 3rd Infantry Division . The brigade consisted of two Attack Battalions ( 2 - 3 and 3 - 3 Atk ) , one General Support Battalion ( Task Force 23 ) , and a Divisional Cavalry Squadron ( 3rd Squadron , 7th Cavalry Regiment ( 3 - 7 Cav ) ) . In April 1991 , the Brigade deployed to Northern Iraq and Southwest Turkey to support the Kurdish refugees and prevent further Iraqi aggression in the region . On 16 August 1991 , 4th Brigade was inactivated . The brigade was reactivated on 16 February 1996 at Fort Stewart as part of the redesignation of the 24th Infantry Division ( Mechanized ) as the 3d Infantry Division ( Mechanized ) . In February 1998 , the Aviation Brigade deployed to Kuwait for Operation Desert Thunder and played a critical role in deterring Iraqi aggression . From September 2000 to October 2001 , elements of the Aviation Brigade deployed to Bosnia - Herzegovina for SFOR 8 and SFOR and enforcement of the Dayton Peace Accords . In August 2002 , the Brigade deployed to Kuwait to prepare for the 2003 invasion of Iraq . At 201830z March 2003 , the Aviation Brigade , as the Division ' s main effort , initiated combat operations with supporting fires from the Division Artillery . During the battle at An Nasiriah , the Aviation Brigade shaped the battlespace in order for 3rd BCT to destroy enemy unit ' s in the vicinity of the Highway 1 Bridge and Tallil Airbase . In Baghdad , the Brigade continued to play a vital role in the ongoing fight for the security of the city . In 2004 , the brigade was redesigned as the U . S . Army ' s first modular Combat Aviation Brigade and deployed to Iraq in January 2005 for Operation Iraqi Freedom III . This redesign enabled the brigade to significantly increase its ability to operate 24 hours a day for an indefinite period of time providing an unprecedented level of aviation combat power to the Division . The brigade ' s accomplishments include flying over 80 , 000 hours in support of over 26 , 707 combat missions to include over 13 , 455 attack and recon missions , 289 air assaults and raids , and over 3 , 760 MEDEVAC missions transporting over 4 , 998 patients . The attack aircraft provided 24 hour coverage over the Multi - National Division - Baghdad area of responsibility from January 2005 to January 2006 , proving to be the Division ' s most flexible and effective , quick reaction force . With an additional Assault Battalion and the Chinooks in the General Support Aviation Battalion , the Brigade was able to offer the Division a new mission - Air Assault . The brigade also performed general aviation support missions , including being the sole provider of helicopter support for the senior members of the Iraqi Transitional Government . This performance is a great testament to Army Aviation ' s new modular design . Distinctive Unit Insignia . The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 3d Aviation Battalion on 29 August 1963 . It was amended to correct the symbolism on 6 September 1963 . It was rescinded on 8 July 1976 . It was reinstated for the 3d Aviation Battalion and amended to revise the symbolism on 10 April 1978 . The insignia was redesignated for the 3d Aviation Regiment with the description revised on 1 July 1987 . The insignia is a silver color metal and enamel device in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned : Azure ( Teal Blue ) , three bendlets Argent , on a chief of the first , a pair of wings displayed fesswise of the second . Attached below the shield a Silver scroll inscribed “ EX ALIS PUGNAMUS ” in Blue letters .