Unit Profile
The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) or 160th SOAR (A) (Night Stalkers) , is a military unit specialized in providing aviation support to Army special operation forces. The unit was created in 1981 after the failure of Operation Eagle Claw, the hostage rescue action of the United States Special Forces in Iran.
The U.S. Army owes its modern night fighting aviation capabilities to the 160th SOAR (A) who pioneered night flight techniques and shared in the development of equipment. The 160th SOAR (A) has provided air support to most U.S. Army Rangers missions. Because of this, both units share most of their operations. The 160th SOAR (A) actively seeks and assigns the best-qualified aviators. Once assigned, incoming officers and enlisted soldiers go through special training programs in preparation for the unit's unique missions.
The regiment currently consists of three battalions, a headquarters company, the Special Operations Aviation Training Company, and two forward-deployed companies located in the U.S. Southern Command and U.S. Pacific Command areas of responsibility. The 1st and 2nd battalions are located at Fort Campbell, Kentucky (USA) while the 3rd Battalion is located at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia Georgia.
Mission
- Provide aviation support to U.S. Special Operations Forces
Raised and Disbanded
- Raised: October 16th, 1981 Task Force 160
- Redesignated: 1986 , 160th Aviation Group (Airborne)
- Redesignated: May 1990, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)
Units
- Headquarters
- 1st Battalion
- 2nd Battalion
- 3rd Battalion
- 4th Battalion
- Training Company
- Forward-deployed company located in the U.S. Pacific Command
- Forward-deployed company located in the U.S. Southern Command
Headquarters
- Fort Campbell, Kentucky, United States