Because special operations usually require specialized equipment, the Night Stalkers fly modified versions of U.S. Army helicopters. This is the story of the only survivor of Operation Redwing, US Navy SEAL Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell, and the extraordinary firefight that led to the largest loss of life in American Navy SEAL history. Today, Night Stalkers continue to develop and employ new technology and tactics, techniques and procedures for the battlefield. In 1986, the unit was re-designated as the 160th Aviation Group (Airborne). Today, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment continues a sustained and active forward presence in the U.S. Central Command area of operations at multiple locations in support of operations Enduring Freedom. They are highly trained and ready to accomplish the very toughest missions in all environments, anywhere in the world, day or night, with unparalleled precision. What was actually going on is revealed here and until now their roles and actions have not been described in any detail. The unit participated in the invasion of Grenada in 1983 and, to increase its capability, became an aviation group with the addition of three battalions and other assets. The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment is an element of U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command (ARSOAC), itself part of United States Army Special Operations Command (Airborne) (USASOC (A)), a component of United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). has one AH-6 Little Bird helicopter company, one MH-6 Little Bird helicopter company and three companies of MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters; 2nd Bn. Known as the “Night Stalkers” for their skills flying with night-vision and infrared devices, the pilots and crews of this elite unit excel in navigating through enemy territory, at very low altitude flying “nap-of-the-earth” and often in foul weather. Kirby Horrell delivers a Veterans Day message highlighting the SEAL Ethos. The MH-60M and MH/AH-6M have weapon system capabilities not found in regular aviation units. This renowned aviation unit is home to the Army’s most elite helicopter pilots. Lt. Michael P. Murphy led the team of PO2 Luttrell, PO2 Dietz and PO2 Axelso. The Army selected aviators and support personnel from the 101st Airborne Division which, at the time, had most diverse mix of operational experience. The 281st became the first organized special operations helicopter unit in the U.S. Army. The U.S. Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and the U.S. Army Special Warfare Center School conducted a thorough search for records responsive to your request. This extensive, realistic training is the foundation of unit combat readiness. Crew: 3; pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer, Capacity: 33-55 troops or 28,000 pounds of cargo. This mission was canceled when the hostages were released in January 1981. Each battalion also has a strategic composition of light, medium, and heavy helicopters, all highly modified in designed to meet the unit's unique mission requirements. Soldiers of the 160th pioneered the Army's nighttime flying techniques. The regiment consists of: Headquarters & Headquarters Company (HHC) The unit was detached from the 101st and re-designated the 160th Aviation Battalion on October 16, 1981. Military units similar to or like 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Special operations force of the United States Army that provides helicopter aviation support for general purpose forces and special operations forces. … An MH-47G Chinook helicopter from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment hovers above a group of US Air Force Special Tactics Operators conducting fast-rope training as part of the Special Tactics Training Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fl., February 19, 2020. The DAP acts as an attack helicopter providing area suppression or pin point attacks due to its laser designator. This engagement resulted in the downing of two MH-60 Blackhawks and became the subject of the book and film entitled Blackhawk Down. These three highly advanced helicopters give the 160th SOAR the ability to support ongoing, often clandestine, missions in Afghanistan. 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Changes to Special Ops Firing Ranges Appear to Reduce Lead Levels in Soldiers, Study Shows, Fort Sill Army Trainers Suspended Amid Allegations of Trainee's Sexual Assault, Top 10 Things You Need to Know Before Going to BUD/S. As demonstrated by pictures of the recent raid to capture Bin Laden, the aircraft of the 160th have stealth characteristics as well. The MH-60L does not carry troops. Join Big Hungry, Kentucky Rife, Serpico and Jedi Knight for a harrowing journey into the heart of the Iraqi insurgency. Are you one of them? Sound Like You? The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment’s mission is to organize, equip, train, resource and employ Army special operations aviation forces worldwide in support of contingency missions and warfighting commanders. 1st Battalion (1/160th SOAR (A)) Fort Campbell, KY 3.1. October 11, 2018 Helicopters, Special Operations. Our crews also provide support to U.S. Southern, Pacific, Africa, and European commands. Headquarters & Headquarters Company(HHC) 2. The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment’s mission is to organize, equip, train, resource and employ Army special operations aviation forces worldwide in support of contingency missions and ground force commanders. This Blackhawk variant has game-changing weapon system capabilities. Their firepower is a game-changer on the battlefield and the ability for SOF ground forces to have dedicated Special Operations Aviation Close Air Support (CAS) is invaluable. In Iraq, as journalist Linda Robinson explains in Masters of Chaos: The Secret History of the Special Forces, Special Forces units were the main U.S. elements on the ground in the northern and western regions of the country, where they defeated government forces that outnumbered them many times over. They are called upon to perform the toughest duties in the armed forces, and their actions directly affect the protection of America's freedom. The regiment headquarters is collocated with the 1st and 2nd battalions and the Special Operations Aviation Training Battalion at Fort Campbell, Ky.; 3rd Bn. These chosen elements began extensive training geared towards a second rescue attempt. This initial entry course lasts five weeks for enlisted soldiers and between 20 to 28 weeks for officers. The professionalism and capabilities of Army special operations aviation are developed through a "train as you fight" mentality. The regiment then became an airborne unit in October 1986 and was re-designated the 160th Special Operations Aviation Group (Airborne). Headquarters & H… The United States Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), abbreviated as the 160th SOAR (A) and also known as Night Stalkers, is a special operations force of the United States Army that provides helicopter aviation support for general purpose forces and special operations forces. The regiment consists of: 1. Based out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) is part of the US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). Some of their aircraft such as the MH-60 DAPs (Direct Action Penetrator) and MH-6 are brimming with guns and rockets mounted on hard points under the wing stubs. The 160th SOAR (A) is a subordinate component of the US Army’s Special Operations Aviation Command. In October 1981, the unit was officially designated the 160th Aviation Battalion. (Tucker is the author of Hell Is Over: Voices of the Kurds After Saddam.) Tom Demerly. The 160th SOAR is comprised of a headquarters company, a special operations training company and four aviation battalions. Based out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) is part of the US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). In 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) on 2011-05-25 01:51:18, 404 NOT FOUND; In 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) on 2011-06-01 18:49:47, 404 NOT FOUND--JeffGBot 18:50, 1 June 2011 (UTC) Something is missing in this. Jessica Lynch. Their latest mission was the flight from Afghanistan into Pakistan in support of the raid that captured and killed Bin Laden on May 1, 2011. 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. Jeff Tomaselli. But his gritty firsthand account is packed with detail: from the slow ballet of “scoping roof tops and alley corners,” the excruciating tension of disarming IEDs and the frenetic choreography of urban combat to the children who are never far away and are always quick with a smile, a wave and an enthusiastic “Amerikee!” Several impressive accounts of the second Iraq War have appeared already from embedded journalists, but few are as personal and edgy as Tucker’s. The Night Stalkers hide under the cover of darkness in order to avoid being detected by the enemy. Surprisingly, however, she devotes only a few pages to the Green Beret-led victory in Afghanistan, even though it was arguably their greatest achievement since they were created after World War II. Its missions have included attack, assault, and reconnaissance, and are usually conducted at night, at … Using the latest night-vision technology and tactics that allow them to fly low-level, the 160th SOAR specializes in delivering special operations forces safely into some of the most dangerous places in the world, whether in an enemy’s backyard or a high altitude mountain hideout. 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. His conversations with troopers are refreshingly authentic; his analysis of the politics of Iraq tends toward open advocacy for the Kurds and a separate state of Kurdistan. During these years the 160th was … Four US Navy SEALS departed one clear night in early July, 2005 for the mountainous Afghanistan-Pakistan border for a reconnaissance mission. The pilots of SOAR are the best in the World. The unit was not disbanded because its capabilities were determined to be too valuable to lose. They initially flew in support of the Northern Alliance in the overthrow of the Taliban. Units from the Army's 75th Ranger Regiment and 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment are controlled by JSOC when deployed as part of JSOC Task Forces such as Task Force 121 and Task Force 145. Using special mission equipment and night vision devices, MH-47 aircrews can operate in hostile mission environments over all types of terrain at low altitudes during periods of low visibility and low ambient lighting conditions with pinpoint navigation accuracy. A former Marine infantryman, Tucker follows the warriors of the 101st Airborne Division in Mosul and the 82nd Airborne and 10th Mountain Divisions in Fallujah during 19 weeks of urban warfare in late 2003 and early 2004. Special Recon, Direct Action. The SOAR has served in almost every U.S. conflict around the world, conducting critical missions, sensitive in nature, and often classified. is located at Fort Lewis, Wash. Based on operational experience in Afghanistan, the MH-47 was found to be an effective substitute for the MH-60 Black Hawk as an assault helicopter. Check out our new section on Air Force Special Operations. The aircraft’s external stub wings have been modified to mount 7.62mm mini guns or 30mm cannon, 2.75 inch aerial rocket pods and precision guided munitions such as the Hellfire missile. 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 160th SOAR actively seeks and assesses the best-qualified aviators, crew members, and support personnel in the Army. Special Operations Forces are the elite commandos of the U.S. military. Special Operation Aviation Training Company(SOATC) 3. The officer corps of the regiment is made up entirely of volunteers. With its onboard advanced avionics packages, the MH-60L is capable of operations during daylight, at night and under adverse weather conditions. Rigorous training continues upon assignment to the line units. Each battalion also has a Headquarters and Headquarters Company and a maintenance company. After another three to five years, the Night Stalker is eligible to be considered for the designation of flight leader. And, if you want to be a part of a generally top-notch team, then 160th SOAR — AKA the “Night Stalkers” — checks the box. Special Operations Command (SOCOM): Overview, Behold the Python that Won a Purple Heart, Indonesian Navy Special Forces Divers Find Debris from Crashed Jet, Next-Gen Combat Suit Shown at Special Operations Exhibition (SOFIC), Trigger Finger Mittens on Marine Corps Cold Weather 'Snivel Gear' Wish List, Army Awards $50 Million Contract for New Special Operations Sniper Rifle, Goodbye, Tiger Stripe: Air Force Adopts OCP Uniform for Mandatory Wear, Autonomous Drones Proved Themselves in Army Ammo Resupply Tests. 160TH SPECIAL OPERATIONS AVIATION REGIMENT (SOAR) The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) is the designated aviation unit for Special Operations. The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment's mission is to organize, equip, train, resource, and employ Army special operations aviation forces worldwide in support of contingency missions and combatant commanders. This strategic organizational structure postures the regiment to support special operations forces mission and training requirements well into the future. 1981 — 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment is officially established . Known as Night Stalkers, these Soldiers are recognized for their proficiency in nighttime operations. USSOCOM receives, reviews, coordinates and prioritizes all DoD plans that support the global campaign against terror. The newest generation combat suit is being shown at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference and Exhibition (SOFIC) at... 308th Rescue Squadron pararescuemen perform a military freefall from the back of an HC-130P/N Combat King aircraft. Documents (72 pages) were located. or "NSDQ," is attributed to Capt. Time and again, in every major combat operation since Grenada, Soldiers of this unit demonstrate that they live by their motto, "Night Stalkers Don't Quit.". Currently, 1st Bn. 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