“Standing up a new unit is a significant moment,” said Paul Shorkey-Chacon, company commander. “We’re here to activate a Troop that will push the Army forward.”
Shorkey-Chacon also highlighted the unit’s heritage, noting, “But as we look forward, we also need to acknowledge the legacy we now inherit.” He added, “We are filling the role once held by 1-6 Air Cavalry Squadron and their Apache helicopters. They set a standard of excellence, and it’s our job to honor their history by building a future they’d be proud of.”
The Army said the activation of Foxtrot Company represents the leading edge of Manned-Unmanned Teaming, extending the situational awareness of Apache pilots by enabling earlier detection, identification and engagement of threats. The capability allows aviation units to operate beyond an enemy’s weapons engagement zone.
“As part of a sweeping modernization effort, we are retooling our formations to confront and defeat a contemporary peer threat,” said Eric Megerdoomian, commander of the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade. “This requires us to be more agile, more lethal and more resilient than ever before.”
The Soldiers assigned to Foxtrot Company will operate systems designed for surveillance as well as the autonomous or crew-controlled disruption and destruction of adversary defenses. Concluding the ceremony, Shorkey-Chacon said, “Wherever this Division goes, from Europe to the Middle East, to the Americas, I am proud that we are establishing this unit to get ahead of the threats we will face.”
