Soldiers, families and friends of the 160th soar a, night stalkers, marked a new chapter for the unit during the shouldersleeve insignia ceremony oct. Oct 7, 20 soldiers, families and friends of the 160th special operations aviation regiment marked a new chapter for the unit with a patch changeover ceremony tuesday at fort campbell. Each cycle aspiring soldiers looking to join the elite 160th soar organization go through the infamous green platoon, but for the ladies, their initiation into the first pink platoon offers a brief glimpse of life as a new member to the unit. The unit was officially established on 16 october 1981, when it was designated as the 160th aviation battalion. Mcchizzle grants anyone the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law. United states army 160th soar patch night stalker special operations aviation regiment 101st airborne division death waits in the dark size. The 160th soarabn is comprised of a regiment headquarters and four battalions. Jun 14, 2018 the new commander for the 4th battalion, 160th special operations aviation regiment on joint base lewismcchord is no stranger to the regiment. Soldiers of the 160th pioneered the armys nighttime flying techniques. As a joe on campbell, my only experience with the 160th outside of talking to my friend was with a 1sg with a soar patch who chased me down on the road to scream at me about doing something illegal on the road.
In late 2008, the 4th battalion, 160th aviation regiment special operations airborne, better known as 4th battalion, 160th special operations aviation regiment, was activated at fort lewis. Oct 03, 20 night stalkers mark new lineage with donning of usasoac patch. Night stalkers patch download free software getrutor. The unit became known as the night stalkers because of its capability to strike undetected during the hours of darkness and its unprecedented combat successes. The army had shuttered the previous incarnations of both companies e and f. Over the next decade, the unit would evolve and be designated the 160th special operations aviation regiment airborne, or soar, in may of 1990. The 160th soar is a highlyspecialized combat aviation unit headquartered at ft. The 281st became the first organized special operations helicopter unit in the u. Army unit patch 160th soar 4th battalion 85th 204th military. United states army 160th soar patch special operations aviation regiment 101st airborne division featuring text night stalkers death waits in the dark. Enjoy these close up shots of the 160th soar s mh47gs new laser countermeasures system.
Army 160th special operations aviation regiment 101st airbrone division military patch. Army ng crew chief 15t e4, been in about 4 years but still have very limited maintenance experience and just recently rl1 crew chief. Special forces is the primary special operations unit of the army and only the army. This report traces the history of the 160th special operations aviation regiment soar airborne from its inception in october 1981 to the present.
From operation urgent fury in 1983 through current operations around the world, the 160th soar has been involved wherever u. Army historians consider the 281st to be the legacy unit for todays 160th special operations aviation regiment airborne, abbreviated as 160th soara. Night stalkers mark new lineage with donning of usasoac patch. The 160th soara is comprised of a regiment headquarters, four battalions and a dedicated training. Army unit patch 160th soar 4th battalion 85th 204th. Us army 160th special operations aviation regiment soar. With the changing of the patch, the 160th soar officially joins the usasoac team.
Known as night stalkers, these soldiers are recognized for their proficiency in nighttime operations. The unit deployed to vietnam where it served from 21 october 1965 to 8 march 1973. United states army 160th soar patch special operations aviation regiment 101st airborne division night salkers di. They are highly trained and ready to accomplish the very toughest. Army special operations aviation command wikipedia. Patch night stalkers death waits in the night 5 embroidered patch with wax backing and merrowed edge special operations aviation regiment special forces special operations. John thompson, and regiment warrant officer, chief warrant officer 5 bob witzler, presided over the ceremony and presented usasoc patches to the company commander. Army special operations aviation command usasoac unveiled its new distinctive unit insignia dui and shoulder sleeve insignia ssi after receiving approval by the armys institute of heraldry. In some countries this may not be legally possible. The unit originally formed from attachments of the 101st airborne division. The 160th soar, otherwise known as task force 160 tf160, or the night stalkers, are an elite u. The 160th special operations aviation regiment airborne, abbreviated as 160th soar a, is a special operations force of the united states army that provides helicopter aviation support for general purpose forces and special operations forces. Shop army unit patch 160th soar 4th battalion and other name brand 85th 204th military at the exchange. Brand new, well detailed, and a great collectors piece.
United states army160th soar patch night stalkerspecial operations aviation. The 160th soar provides helicopter aviation support to other forces for the us army, specializing in reconnaissance, attack, and assault. The 160th soar is best known for inserting and extracting sof units, but the attack component is equally badass and replete with firepower. Nov 19, 2014 over the next decade, the unit would evolve and be designated the 160th special operations aviation regiment airborne, or soar, in may of 1990. He had been in the unit since 1986, with a majority of his time serving in the same. Night stalkers are highly trained and ready to accomplish the very toughest missions in all environments, anywhere in the world, day or night, with worldclass precision. It immediately entered into a period of intensive night flying, quickly becoming the. Enjoy these close up shots of the 160th soars mh47gs.
Hunter army airfield, ga units hunter army airfield is home to over 5,000 active duty members and over 5,000 active duty family members. History of the 160th soar a the army owes its modern night fighting aviation capabilities to the 160th special operations aviation regiment airborne who pioneered night flight techniques, shared in the development of equipment, and proved that night stalkers dont quit, a motto the regiment lives by. Lieutenant colonel stephen smith said he knows there are some big shoes to fill. Apr 21, 2019 the united states army 160th special operations aviation regiment airborne, abbreviated as the 160th soar a and also known as night stalkers, or within jsoc as task force brown, is a special. Based on information from unclassified files of the 160th soar a and interviews with many of the participants, the report describes some of the major operations in which the unit has. Oct 04, 20 for the first time, we have a patch that reflects our own identity as an aviation special operations force, said col. Us army 160th soar 101st night stalker military patch. United states us army 160th special operations aviation regiment soar airborne patch night stalker 100% embroidery ironon measures approximately 3. Army unit patches, special forces patch, special operations command, 101st airborne division, combat medic, military insignia, united states army, vietnam veterans, motto. The 160th special operations aviation regiment airborne, abbreviated as 160th soar a. History of the 160th soara the army owes its modern night fighting aviation capabilities to the 160th special operations aviation regiment airborne who pioneered night flight techniques, shared in the development of equipment, and proved that night stalkers dont quit, a motto the regiment lives by.
Night stalkers mark new lineage with donning of arsoac patch. Us army 160th soar 101st airborne div night stalker spec ops. New recruitment video of the worlds best helicopter unit. The story told of 160th soar personnel visiting a boeing unit in mesa. Army special operations unit who fly helicopters in support of both sof and regular forces. Enjoy these close up shots of the 160th soar s mh47gs. Sergeant faces discharge over bin laden raid intelligence that obama made public in 2011. The 160th soarabn is comprised of a regiment headquarters, four battalions and a dedicated training battalion. Army 160th soar ghostrider aerial gun platoon social misfits. Known as the night stalkers, these soldiers are recognized for their proficiency in nighttime operations.
The 129th assault helicopter company was formed on 3 july 1965 and activated on 5 july 1965 at fort campbell, kentucky. Ricardo branch, army sergeant, faces discharge for email. The unit originally formed from attachments of the 101st. Usasoac provisionally activated march 25th, 2011, as the aviation staff proponent of the u. Happy birthday to 160th soar airborne armored column. The ceremony begins a new lineage for the night stalkers, which will move forward wearing the usasoac shoulder sleeve insignia. Battle of mogadishu embroidered patch 5 12 white lettering somalia 10th infantry mountain division, 375 rangers, us navy seals, 160th soar black hawk down veteran novelty patch. Validate and deploy trained, equipped and lethal infantry companies that are disciplined and adaptable to win decisively during unified. Life in the 160th i have spoken to ad and 160th recruiters background. A new night stalker arrives to a unit basic mission qualified bmq.
Oct 02, 20 fort campbell, ky soldiers, families and friends of the 160th special operations aviation regiment airborne marked a new chapter for the unit with a patch changeover ceremony oct. From operation urgent fury in 1983 through current operations. For the first time, we have a patch that reflects our own identity as an aviation special operations force, said col. Home helicopters enjoy these close up shots of the 160th soars mh47gs new laser. On one occasion, a soar mh60 conducted a hot extraction of a compromised oda unit from inside iraq. Usasoac unveiled its new distinctive unit insignia dui. Morale at my unit is pretty low at the moment and i feel like i can do better honestly. Today, night stalkers continue to develop and employ new technology and tactics. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Collectible military patch reproduction, brand new, never used or worn. Their aircraft had just been fitted with new equipment, which he helped certify. Department of defense dod visual information or any governmental department international or in. With the activation of the 160th soar, control moved to the regiment and later 1994 the 617th was redesignated d 160th.
This new patch is uniquely ours, and its history and lineage moving forward will be built by the deeds of our. With the changing of the patch, the 160th soar a officially joins the usasoac team. United states army 160th special operations aviation regiment military patch mnf1 stratops soc. The 160th soar provides unparalleled precision rotary wing special operations, isr, and expertise to all dod special operations forces. Army 160th special operations aviation regiment 101st. The gunsagogo callsign, of the former 53rd and 1st aviation detachment of armed chinooks from the vietnam war period, will fly again.
The former commander of the 160th soar, general brown is currently the commanding general of united states special operations command. The unit earned decorations for valor and meritorious service from the army, navy and republic. Enjoy these close up shots of the 160th soars mh47gs new. The 160th soar is the unit that flew the special mhx stealth black hawk helicopters and mh47g or classified variant chinook during operation neptunes spear, the raid to capture osama. Its missions have included attack, assault, and reconnaissance, and these missions are usually. Soar is the primary helicopter support unit of all special operations. Located with the regiment is the usasoac special operations. The 160th soar is the unit that flew the special mhx stealth black hawk helicopters and mh47g or classified variant chinook during operation neptunes spear, the raid to capture osama bin. The 101sts patches came off, the personnel and equipment would be reassigned, and a new tradition was born. The 160th special operations aviation regiment soar nightstalkers from fort campbell has started up a new battalion at ft lewis, wa. Each soar battalion is composed of light, medium and heavy helicopters, all modified and designed to meet the units unique mission.
The 160th soar practice regularly with sof from the u. Soar do have the airborne tab as part of their patch, but that tab is a part of a unit s patch and not individually earned like the sf tab. The unit was not initially part of the 160th because the 160th was still the 160th special operations group and encompassed just the units at ft. Soldiers, families and friends of the 160th soar a, night stalkers, marked a new chapter for the unit during the shouldersleeve insignia. Im not trying to ask what you do on a daily basis because im sure some of it is classified. I have been pondering about trying out for 160th for a couple months now and want to find out some more information from people at the unit. Each formation has a unique formation patch, which serves as an indicator of a units heraldic lineage. Arturo dimas, company d, 2nd battalion, 160th soar. Popular patch is your source for high quality embroidered military patches. The 160th special operations aviation regiments mission is to organize, equip, train, resource and employ army special operations aviation forces worldwide in support of contingency missions and warfighting commanders. Soar helicopters also inserted and extracted special forces odas into saudi arabia, kuwait and iraq, who were carrying out reconnaissance operations.
Nov 18, 20 its something thats been long and coming, said spc. The 160th special operations aviation regiment has a new emblem patch that reflects their own identity as an aviation special operations force. Department of defense dod visual information or any governmental department international or. United states army 160th special operations aviation regiment 101st airbrone division military patch airborne red wing spear. Think about your logic, an elite unit in the army, that hand selects the best of the best, is not going to spend the time and effort to ship an armor officer to flight school, then hope he or she is miraculously now the cream of the crop of aviators. Making a night stalker is a rare insight into the elite. The new unit will serve special operations forces on the west coast as well as the pacific theater of operations. Armys elite night stalkers quietly stood up a new unit. For the soldiers of the 160th special operations aviation regiment. Youve earned the right to shop tax free and enjoy free shipping. Current left and former right combat service identification badges u. This work has been released into the public domain by its author, mcchizzle. With a separate patch, it distinguishes the unit as an organization under u.
The 160th special operations aviation regiments mission is to organize, equip, train, resource, and employ army special operations aviation forces worldwide in support of contingency missions and. Up until their retirement ceremony friday, maier was the longesttenured night stalker in the 160th soar a. New recruitment video of the worlds best helicopter. Army material command, logistics assistance office lao, field support center afsc, and the u. This is the first new unit usasoc has created under the control of the 160th since it activated company e in october 2010. Fort campbells night stalkers mark new lineage with donning. Major units include the 117th air control, 188th infantry brigade, aviation and missile command amcom project olr east, u.
Its missions have included attack, assault, and reconnaissance, and these missions are usually conducted at night, at high speeds, low altitudes, and. The 160th special operations aviation regiments mission is to organize, equip, train, resource, and employ so aviation forces. The 160th soar known as the night stalkers are the us armys best aviators and the premiere rotary wing aviation unit in the militarys special operations. If you want to fly, resign commission at earliest opportunity, then go warrant officer, then apply for 160th.
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