The 4th Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment originated from the Aviation section assigned to the Regiment while stationed at Happstadten, Germany in 1961. In July 1968, the 3d ACR, with the Aviation section, redeployed to the United States and was stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington.
The Regiment, along with the Aviation section and a recently formed Air Cavalry Troop, relocated from Ft Lewis, Washington to Ft Bliss, Texas in 1972. In 1982, the Aviation section was consolidated and redesignated the Regimental Support Aviation Troop (RSAT) which, along with the Air Cavalry Troop (ACT), provided the Regiment with airborne command and control, troop lift, aerial resupply, and medical evacuation capabilities.
The ACT and RSAT were combined in December 1985 to form the 3d combat Aviation Squadron (Provisional). This provisional Squadron first demonstrated its contribution to the Regimental Combined Arms Team during a rotation to the National Training Center in 1987. The following year, the Squadron deployed to REFORGER to participate in the last REFORGER exercise prior to the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
The Squadron was officially activated as the 4th Squadron, 3d ACR in October 1988. It consisted of Headquarters and Headquarters Troop (HHT), three Air Cavalry Troops (N, O, P), two Attack Troops (Q and R), and Assault Troop (S), and an Aviation Maintenance Troop (T). Within these organizations, the Squadron was equipped with the AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopter, the OH-58A/C Kiowa Helicopter, the UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter, and the EH-60 Quickfix Electronic Warfare Helicopter.
In September 1990, the Squadron deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Desert Shield and established Longknife Base Camp in North Central Saudi Arabia. On the morning of 24 February 1991, the Squadron crossed the border into Iraq and commenced offensive operations in support of the Regiment, attacking deep into Iraqi territory, moving more than 350 kilometers in less then 72 hours. Upon the Coalition Forces' victory, the Squadron redeployed to Ft Bliss, Texas in March 1991.
In late 1995, the Squadron initiated its relocation from Ft Bliss to Ft Carson, Colorado. In December 1995, the two Attack Troops (Q and R) were deactivated and their OH-58A/C and AH-1 aircraft were turned in. On 15 January 1996, the two Attack Troops were reactivated and equipped with the AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter. The relocation to Ft Carson, Colorado was completed in March 1996.
The 571st Medical Company (Air Ambulance) was assigned to the Squadron in August 1996 with 15 additional UH-60 Blackhawk aircraft. With the addition of the 571st, the Squadron grew to a total of 83 combat aircraft and 700 Troopers, the largest Aviation Squadron/Battalion in the United States Army.
The Squadron has continued its Attack, Air Cavalry, Assault, Electronic Warfare and Medevac missions in support of the Regiment and the Mountain Post not only at home station, but also during recent deployments to the National Training Center, Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, Operation Green Flag (Nellis, AFB), Operation Northern Edge (Alaska), Operation Intrinsic Action (Kuwait), Medevac support to Joint Task Force Sic, Ft Bliss, Texas; and Ft Riley, Kansas and to wildland firefighting contingencies throughout the Western United States.
Commencing in October 1998, the Squadron will transfer all remaining OH-58 and AH-1 aircraft and will be modernized with 24 OH-58D Warriors. This reorganization under the Army Restructuring Initiative will again distinguish the Squadron as the only Squadron of Battalion in the active force equipped with AH-64, UH-60A/L, EH-60A, and OH-58D aircraft.
The 3rd ACR's 4th Aviation Squadron, the largest battalion-sized aviation organization in the Army, has fielded the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. When the fielding completed by the end of FY99, the 4th Squadron, 3rd Cav had completed fielding both the AH-64A Apache and the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. The squadron then possessed the capability to even further extend the "eyes" of the Army's only active armored cavalry regiment.
The Squadron is an integral component of the Regiment's combined arms team and is prepared for worldwide deployment in support of the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen.
