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| 1st Battalion, 104th Aviation Regiment | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | 1st Battalion, 104th Aviation Regiment |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Type | Aviation |
| Role | Assault and MEDEVAC |
| Size | Battalion |
| Command structure | National Guard; United States Army Aviation Branch |
1st Battalion, 104th Aviation Regiment is a United States Army aviation battalion aligned with Army National Guard aviation force structure that provides assault, air movement, and aeromedical evacuation capabilities for state and federal missions. The unit traces lineage through Army Aviation reorganizations and has participated in domestic response, overseas contingency operations, and multinational exercises supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and state emergency missions. The battalion integrates with aviation brigades, State Partnership Program activities, and interagency responses involving Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Defense taskings, and allied aviation units.
The battalion's origins reflect post-Cold War aviation restructuring within the United States Army National Guard and the evolution of the United States Army Aviation Branch during the AirLand Battle and Operational Enduring Freedom eras. Its antecedent elements served during the Global War on Terrorism with deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and support missions in the Horn of Africa region, while contributing to homeland missions after Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, and civil disasters declared by state governors. The unit supported multinational exercises such as Operation Atlantic Resolve, Operation Noble Eagle, and bilateral training with British Army aviation units, Canadian Forces aviation, and NATO partners in Europe. Organizational changes followed force redesigns under the Army Force Generation model and the Army Modular Force transformation, aligning the battalion with modern aeromedical and assault roles for both domestic and expeditionary operations.
The battalion is organized into headquarters and multiple companies reflecting standard United States Army aviation battalion tables of organization: Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), assault lift companies, and medical evacuation companies equipped for rotary-wing operations. It falls under state Army National Guard aviation command and augments larger formations such as the Combat Aviation Brigade of an Infantry Division or Sustainment Command for task-organized deployments. The battalion coordinates with Joint Task Force headquarters during domestic contingencies and integrates liaison elements from State Defense Forces, National Guard Bureau, and interagency partners for unified response. Its officer cadre includes aviators who have graduated from United States Army Aviation School and noncommissioned officers with qualifications from Warrant Officer Candidate School and Sergeant Major Academy professional development.
Primary missions include air assault, air movement, aeromedical evacuation, personnel recovery, and support to civil authorities under state active duty or federal activation. The battalion executes tactical air assault in coordination with Infantry Division maneuver elements, conducts aeromedical evacuation operations interoperable with Department of Veterans Affairs trauma systems, and performs search and rescue coordination with United States Coast Guard and state emergency services. It supports overseas contingency operations under combatant command taskings like United States Central Command and humanitarian assistance missions coordinated with United States Agency for International Development. The battalion contributes to domestic disaster relief, critical infrastructure support, and aerial reconnaissance during emergency incidents declared by state governors.
The battalion operates rotary-wing platforms consistent with Army National Guard assault and MEDEVAC roles, typically including variants of the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk and Boeing AH-64 Apache for rotary-wing assault and escort when task-organized, as well as medically configured aircraft such as the HH-60M for aeromedical evacuation. Maintenance and sustainment are conducted via Army aviation logistics systems integrating parts from Army Prepositioned Stocks and support from Army Materiel Command. Avionics suites incorporate navigation systems compliant with Global Positioning System and communications interoperability with Air Traffic Control and joint airspace deconfliction tools used in Operation Enduring Freedom theaters. The battalion also employs ground vehicles for expeditionary operations and forward arming and refueling points aligned with Combat Service Support procedures.
Elements of the battalion have deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom rotations, providing assault lift, convoy aerial security, and aeromedical evacuation in theater. The unit has participated in multinational exercises such as Saber Strike and TAPAS-style interoperability drills and contributed to homeland responses during events like Hurricane Katrina relief and pandemic response coordination with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The battalion has executed missions under Title 10 United States Code mobilizations and Title 32 of the United States Code state activations, interfacing with Joint Chiefs of Staff directives and National Guard Bureau mobilization protocols. Attachments with active component aviation brigades enabled joint task force missions in Kuwait and Djibouti.
Individual soldiers and subordinate units have received campaign streamers and unit awards associated with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, decorations from National Guard Bureau command channels, and state-level commendations issued by governors for domestic operations. Personnel have earned individual awards tied to Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, and meritorious service in combat and humanitarian operations, along with aviation badges such as the Army Aviator Badge and Combat Action Badge. Unit recognition reflects participation in named operations and interoperability missions with NATO partners across Europe.
Training cycles align with annual readiness goals under the Army National Guard readiness model, including annual training (AT), mobilization exercises, and participation in Combat Aviation Brigade collective training at centers such as the National Training Center and Joint Readiness Training Center. Crews receive mission qualification in instrument flight rules (IFR), formation flying, and aeromedical evacuation procedures certified at United States Army Aviation School and regional readiness centers. The battalion conducts joint training with Air National Guard airlift, United States Air Force aeromedical assets, and civilian agencies such as Federal Emergency Management Agency for domestic response interoperability, and leverages live, virtual, and constructive training environments to sustain deployable readiness.
Category:United States Army aviation units Category:National Guard (United States) units