244th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade

244th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade
244th Aviation Brigade shoulder sleeve insignia
Active16 September 1988 – present
CountryUnited States
AllegianceArmy Reserve
BranchArmy Aviation
TypeComposite Brigade
RoleDaily missions;search and rescue operations; assisting in wildfire suppression; providing support at the Army National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California;, and flying dignitaries around the country.
Part ofArmy Reserve Aviation Command
Garrison/HQFort Knox, kentucky
Motto"Wings of The Hawk"
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia
244 AVIATION BRIGADE SUBDUED DESERT SSI

The 244th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade (ECAB) is a Combat Aviation Brigade in the United States Army Reserve (USAR). It is one of two aviation brigades in the Army Reserve Aviation Command.[1] The Army announced in May 2025 that it expects to deactivate the brigade in 2026.[2]

The brigade was originally activated as the 24th Aviation Group in Glenview, Ill. and became the 244th Aviation Brigade in 1995. The restructuring in 1995 was a consolidation of USAR aviation units under a unified command.[3] The brigade has taken part in Operation Desert Shield/Storm[4][5], Joint Forge[6], Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve[7]. The unit also has many humanitarian missions such as wildfire response[8] and search and rescue operations.[1]

Organization

The brigade is a subordinate unit of the Army Reserve Aviation Command. As of January 2026 the brigade consists of the following units:[9]

  • 244th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, at Fort Knox (KY)[9][10][11]
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 244th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, at Fort Knox (KY)[10]
    • 5th Battalion (General Support Aviation), 159th Aviation Regiment, at Joint Base Langley–Eustis (VA)[12]
      • Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Battalion (General Support Aviation), 159th Aviation Regiment, at Fort Eustis (VA)[12]
      • Company A (CAC), 5th Battalion (General Support Aviation), 159th Aviation Regiment, at Army Aviation Support Facility Clearwater (FL)[13]
      • Company B (Heavy Lift), 5th Battalion (General Support Aviation), 159th Aviation Regiment, at Fort Eustis (VA)[12]
      • Company C (MEDEVAC), 5th Battalion (General Support Aviation), 159th Aviation Regiment, at Fort Knox (KY)[10]
      • Company D (AVUM), 5th Battalion (General Support Aviation), 159th Aviation Regiment, at Fort Eustis (VA)[12]
        • Detachment 1, Company D (AVUM), 5th Battalion (General Support Aviation), 159th Aviation Regiment, at Army Aviation Support Facility Clearwater (FL)[13]
        • Detachment 2, Company D (AVUM), 5th Battalion (General Support Aviation), 159th Aviation Regiment, at Fort Knox (KY)[10]
      • Company E (Forward Support), 5th Battalion (General Support Aviation), 159th Aviation Regiment, at Fort Eustis (VA)[12]
        • Detachment 1, Company E (Forward Support), 5th Battalion (General Support Aviation), 159th Aviation Regiment, at Army Aviation Support Facility Clearwater (FL)[13]
        • Detachment 2, Company E (Forward Support), 5th Battalion (General Support Aviation), 159th Aviation Regiment, at Fort Knox (KY)[10]
      • Company F (ATS), 5th Battalion (General Support Aviation), 159th Aviation Regiment, at Fort Knox (KY)[10]
      • Company G (MEDEVAC), 5th Battalion (General Support Aviation), 159th Aviation Regiment, at Army Aviation Support Facility Clearwater (FL)[13]
    • 2nd Battalion (Fixed Wing), 228th Aviation Regiment, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (NJ)[14]
      • Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion (Fixed Wing), 228th Aviation Regiment, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (NJ)[14]
      • Company A, 2nd Battalion (Fixed Wing), 228th Aviation Regiment, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (NJ)[14]
      • Company B, 2nd Battalion (Fixed Wing), 228th Aviation Regiment, at Dobbins Air Reserve Base (GA)[15]
        • Detachment 1, Company B, 2nd Battalion (Fixed Wing), 228th Aviation Regiment, at Fort Rucker (AL)[16]
      • Company C, 2nd Battalion (Fixed Wing), 228th Aviation Regiment, at Pope Field (NC)[17]
    • 8th Battalion (Assault), 229th Aviation Regiment, at Fort Knox (KY)[10]
      • Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 8th Battalion (Assault), 229th Aviation Regiment, at Fort Knox (KY)[10]
      • Company A, 8th Battalion (Assault), 229th Aviation Regiment, at Fort Knox (KY)[10]
      • Company B, 8th Battalion (Assault), 229th Aviation Regiment, at Fort Knox (KY)[10]
      • Company C, 8th Battalion (Assault), 229th Aviation Regiment, at Fort Knox (KY)[10]
      • Company D (AVUM), 8th Battalion (Assault), 229th Aviation Regiment, at Fort Knox (KY)[10]
      • Company E (Forward Support), 8th Battalion (Assault), 229th Aviation Regiment, at Fort Knox (KY)[10]

Abbreviations: CAC — Command Aviation Company; MEDEVAC — Medical evacuation; AVUM — Aviation Unit Maintenance; FSC — Forward Support Company; ATS — Air Traffic Services

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b "Our units". US Army Reserve Aviation Command. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  2. ^ Staff, Web; Anstaett, Colter (11 July 2025). "Army Reserve helicopter unit at Ft. Eustis shutting down, impacting around 450-500 personnel". CBS 6 News Richmond WTVR. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  3. ^ "U.S. Army Reserve Aviation: Our Strategic Plan | Army Aviation Magazine". Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  4. ^ Tackaberry, Colonel Burt S. (30 June 1991). "Part I: 24th Aviation Brigade in DESERT STORM". Army Aviation. 40 (6) – via Army Aviation Publications, Inc.
  5. ^ "Boots in the Sand" (PDF). Louisiana National Guard Museum. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  6. ^ "449th Combat Aviation Brigade | NCNG". ng.nc.gov. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  7. ^ "The 244th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade Becomes The First Army Reserve Aviation Brigade To Deploy In Support of Operation Inherent Resolve". US Army Central. 27 September 2019.
  8. ^ "Wildfire Response". National Guard. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  9. ^ a b "Our units". US Army Reserve Aviation Command. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Kentucky units". US Army Reserve. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  11. ^ "244th ECAB Our units". 244th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Virginia units". US Army Reserve. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  13. ^ a b c d "Florida units". US Army Reserve. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  14. ^ a b c "New Jersey units". US Army Reserve. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  15. ^ "Georgia units". US Army Reserve. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  16. ^ "Alabama units". US Army Reserve. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  17. ^ "North Carolina units". US Army Reserve. Retrieved 23 January 2026.

Bibliography

  • Donald, D (1997). World Air Power Journal - Volume 28 Spring. UK: Aerospace Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-874023-859.


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