Aviation Brigade will train and advise Reserve Component aviation units
FORT HOOD (Now designated Fort Cavazos), Texas — First Army Division West will host an activation ceremony for the 166th Aviation Brigade, on Friday, August 17, beginning at 8 a.m. on Cameron Field.
Maj. Gen. Erik C. Peterson, acting commanding general, First Army, and commanding general, First Army Division West, will host the ceremony.
The 166th Aviation Brigade will provide prioritized pre-mobilization assistance and post-mobilization theater-focused training and validation of Reserve Component aviation units, in order to prepare Soldiers and leaders for deployment in support of combatant commanders’ priorities. Additionally they are prepared to provide training to joint, interagency, combined, and active duty Army sources to enhance total force Army Aviation readiness.
The brigade will consist of 175 Soldiers and is commanded by Col. Ronald Ells.
First US Army mobilizes, trains, validates, deploys and demobilizes all Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve forces throughout the continental United States, providing trained and ready forces for diverse missions worldwide.
Media members should call Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) Public Affairs office at 254-449-5298 no later than 4 p.m. Thursday, August 16. Media interested in covering the ceremony should meet III Corps and First Army Public Affairs personnel at the Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) Visitors Center, Bernie Beck Gate, parking lot no later than 7 a.m. on Friday, August 17.
***News/Assignment Editors: point of contact for questions, information, event coverage and media escort is Darryl Howlett, 309.782.9717, 309.756.7443, or Darryl.g.howlett.civ@mail.mil .
