The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) provides rotary-wing aviation support to Army special operations forces. The regiment consists of MH-6 and AH-6 Little Bird light helicopters, MH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters and MH-47 Chinook heavy assault helicopters. The regiment’s pioneering aviation capabilities have been constantly evolving since the unit’s formation more than two decades ago.
Shortly after a failed hostage rescue mission, Operation Eagle Claw, at Desert One in Iran, the Army formed a special aviation unit. The unit drew on the best aviators in the Army and immediately began an intensive training program in low-level night operations. Designated the 160th Aviation Battalion on Oct. 16, 1981, the unit was popularly known as Task Force 160 because of the constant attachment and detachment of its assets in preparation for a wide variety of missions. Its unmatched expertise and mission focus on night operations resulted in the unit’s nickname, the “Night Stalkers.” On May 16, 1990, the unit was reorganized, designated the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), and assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
The regiment currently consists of three battalions, a headquarters company, a forward-deployed company in the U.S. Pacific Command area of responsibility and the Special Operations Aviation Training Company. The 160th’s 1st and 2nd battalions are located at Fort Campbell, Ky., while the 3rd Battalion is located at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga. The organizational structure of the 160th SOAR allows the regiment to quickly tailor its unique assets to meet the mission requirements of special operations forces.
The 160th SOAR actively seeks and accesses the best-qualified aviators and support Soldiers available in the Army. The unique mission of the unit requires that all members be three-time volunteers — for the Army, for airborne training and for the regiment. Once assigned, incoming officers and enlisted Soldiers go through respective Basic Mission Qualification courses. The Officer Qualification Course lasts 20-28 weeks, while the Enlisted Qualification Course is three weeks in duration. Two higher qualification levels, Fully Mission Qualified and Flight Lead, require 12-24 months and 36-60 months of additional progression, respectively.
The professionalism and capabilities of Army special operations aviation, developed through a “train as you fight” mentality, have been demonstrated in every combat operation since Vietnam, to include: Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada, Operation Just Cause in Panama, operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Kuwait and Iraq, and Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and the Philippines and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq.
