103rd Aviation Regiment (United States)

103rd Aviation Regiment 86th Air Traffic Control Battalion
Regimental Coat of Arms
Active	4 April 1984–present?
Country	United States
Allegiance	Vermont
Branch	United States Army
Role	Air Traffic Control, then Attack Helicopter
Size	Battalion
Part of	Vermont Army National Guard
Headquarters	Camp Johnson, Colchester, Vermont
Motto(s)	"Highway in the Sky"
Engagements	Gulf War 2003 Invasion of Iraq

The 103rd Aviation Regiment is a helicopter aviation regiment of the United States Army forming part of the Vermont Army National Guard. The battalion was initially an air traffic control unit, but later converted to the attack aviation role with Boeing AH-64 Apaches. The battalion's last mention is in 2013, and it is unknown of the unit still exists in 2022.

History

The 103rd Aviation Regiment can trace its lineage back to the 86th Air Traffic Control Battalion formed on 4 April 1984 as part of the Vermont Army National Guard. On 1 October 1987, as part of the re-designation of aviation battalions to aviation regiments, the battalion became the 1st Battalion, 103rd Aviation.

On 17 January 1991, the 103rd Aviation Company (ATC Maintenance) and 150th Aviation Platoon (Air Traffic Control) were activated for service in the Gulf War.

In 1992, as part of the post Cold War cuts to the U.S. Army, the 103rd Aviation Regiment was reduced with around 60 soldiers cut from the headquarters and the two air traffic control units disbanded shortly thereafter.

In 1995, the 1st battalion still existed as an air traffic control unit within the Aviation Branch.

By 2003, the battalion was re-roled as an attack helicopter battalion and armed with Boeing AH-64D Apaches. The battalion later took part in the 2003 Invasion of Iraq.

According to documents as late as 2013, the battalion still exists and is based at the Army Aviation Support Facility at Burlington International Airport. However, no official documents show the battalion as still in exitance.

Structure

• 1st Battalion
  • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
    • Detachment, at Camp Johnson, Colchester, Vermont
  • A Company
  • B Company
  • C Company
  • D Company
    • 150th Aviation Detachment (Air Traffic Control), at Camp Johnson, Colchester, Vermont
  • 50th Air Traffic Control Company, at Camp Johnson, Colchester, Vermont
  • 130th Aviation Company (Air Traffic Control Maintenance)
  • 186th Aviation Company, at Camp Johnson, Colchester, Vermont

Heraldry

Coat of Arms

Description/Blazon

• Shield: Or, a hurt gridlined of the field between four lightning flashes two in chief conjoined chevronwise and two in base conjoined chevronwise reversed Tenné, overall a fess fimbriated Or bearing billets fesswise in fess of the like, all superimposed by a mullet of the last.
• Crest: That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Vermont Army National Guard: On a wreath of the colors Or and Azure, a buck's head erased within a garland of pine branches all Proper.

Symbolism

• Shield: The blue globe suggests the earth.  The highway alludes to the unit's mission and further alludes to the unit's motto.  The star represents excellence and achievement.  The orange lightning flashes refer to the communications necessary in providing a link between ground forces and air units.
• Crest: The crest is that of the Vermont Army National Guard

Background

The coat of arms was approved on 29 July 1988.

Distinctive Unit Insignia

• Description/Blazon: A gold color metal and enamel circular device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in diameter consisting of a blue globe with gold gridlines bearing in bend sinister a black highway charged with a gold star all enclosed by a circular gold motto scroll bearing between two orange lightning flashes the words "HIGHWAY" at the top and "IN THE SKY" at bottom, all in black.
• Symbolism: The blue globe suggests the earth.  The highway in orbit alludes to the predecessor unit's mission in providing security for aircraft and further suggests its motto.  The star represents excellence and achievement.  The orange lightning flashes refer to the communications necessary in providing a link between ground forces and air units.
• Background: The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 86th Air Traffic Control Battalion on 4 April 1984.  It was redesignated for the 103d Aviation Regimen with the symbolism revised effective 1 October 1987.