New Organization Will Provide Local Command For Aviation Units

Fort Wainwright, located in Fairbanks, Alaska, is home to two aviation regiments. This includes the 25th, which flies the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, and the 52nd, which flies the CH-47 Chinook cargo helicopter. 

Recently, the Army’s 11th Airborne Division shared that they will be activating a new Arctic Aviation Command to facilitate improved communication between these units and upper leadership.

The 11th Airborne Division, or ‘Arctic Angels,’ was historically established on February 25, 1943. It played a large role in the Pacific Theater during World War II, and went on to lead development in Air Assault techniques as the 11th Air Assault Division. On July 3, 1965, the division was inactivated. It was later replaced by the U.S. Army Alaska, or ‘Arctic Warriors,’ in 1994. This command was in place until 2022, and the 11th Airborne Division was reactivated shortly after.

The Arctic Angels operate in extreme conditions, including freeze-your-toes-off temperatures and mountainous terrain. Their assignments include expeditions in the Indo-Pacific Theater, Multi-Domain operations in the Arctic, and homeland infrastructure defense. Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. McConnville commented, “I expect every soldier of this Division to be masters of their craft, of Arctic Warfare.”

The 1-25 and 1-52 units are required to report up a lengthy chain of distant commanders. Their only headquarters are at Fort Shafter in Hawaii and Joint Base Lewis-McCord in Washington, making it difficult for them to respond as quickly as desired. With the new organization fully operational, however, the units will have a local headquarters. This will simplify communication procedures between commanders and the two regiments.

John Pennell, a division spokesperson, told Alaska Public Media that “it’s going to simplify things for those units, so that they are responding to one commander, as opposed to a local commander and also to a faraway commander.”

The Army 11th Airborne Division is certain that the addition of the Arctic Aviation Command will give them everything they need to enhance operations and coordination.

FMI: 11thairbornedivision.army.mil