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164th Theater Airfield Operations Group
4th Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment
125th Air Traffic Control Battalion (Corps)
284th Aviation Company (Air Traffic Control)
Army Air Traffic Control Regulation and Identification Company
164th TAOG
Group insignia
Active December 1963 – 1 October 1978
1 October 1978 – present
Country Flag of the United States United States
Branch Flag of the United States Army (1775) United States Army
Role Air Traffic Control
Size Group - 4 battalions
Part of US Army Air Traffic Services Command SSI Air Traffic Services Command
Group HQ Fort Rucker, Alabama
Motto(s) "Here I Am, Send Me"

The 164th Theater Airfield Operations Group (164th TAOG) is an aviation brigade-sized formation of the United States Army part of United States Army Forces Command. The group is the only of its type and tasked with overseeing the three regular battalions and a reserve airfield operations unit of the United States Army.

History[]

The 164th Theater Airfield Operations Group traces its history to the Korean War with the formation of the Army Air Traffic Control Regulation and Identification Company in December 1963. The company's original role would be retained up to today, to provide air traffic control for all army aviation forces in the field. In 1966, the company was redesignated as the 284th Aviation Company (Air Traffic Control), with an authorized strength of 1 officer and 38 enlisted soldiers. In 1971, this capability was expanded when the divisional and corps level air traffic forces were merged into the 284th. The company's establishment was further expanded to 191 personnel with Katusa and Korean civilian employees to provide bilingual capability.[1]

On July 1, 1973, all air traffic control units were transferred to the United States Army Communications Command and the 284th ATC was assigned to the 1st Signal Brigade. By 1974, the company strength of 231 soldiers was responsible for providing visual flight rules flight following of aircraft and operating eight control towers and three radar facilities. On Feb. 1, 1977, the 284th Aviation Company was re-designated as the United States Army Air Control Battalion, Korea (Provisional). On Oct. 1, 1978, the organization was officially inactivated and reactivated as the 125th Air Traffic Control Battalion (Corps) with a headquarters and headquarters detachment and two air traffic control companies. On Oct. 16, 1986, the 125th Air Traffic Control Battalion transferred its colors from the 1st Signal Brigade to the 17th Aviation Brigade, thus becoming an official member of the United States Army Aviation Branch.[1]

Under the United States Army Aviation regimental plan, the 125th Air Traffic Control Battalion was re-designated on July 16, 1987, as the 4th Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment.  On Oct. 16, 1995, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 4th Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment retired its colors and re-activated as the 164th Air Traffic Services Group.  On June 15, 2005, the 164th ATS Group became part of the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade. On May 2, 2007, the 164th ATS Group was re-designated the 164th Theater Airfield Operations Group, under the United States Army Forces Command, and stationed on Fort Rucker, Ala.  Soon after, on June 7, 2007, elements of the 164th TAOG deployed to Iraq and Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom Rotation 07-09 and remained through OIF Rotation 08-10.[1][2]

From 2005, the group had an organic structure of three battalions (1st, 3rd, and 4th Battalions, 58th Aviation Regiment) and a separate company (597th Ordnance Company). However, changes to the Army Aviation's battalions saw the 2nd Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment disbanded.[3] The battalion now also includes a National Guard aligned battalion, the 2nd Battalion, 130th Aviation Regiment of the North Carolina Army National Guard.[4][5]

Organization[]

The current organization of the group include subordinate elements is as follows:[2][5][6]

  • Headquarters & Headquarters Company, at Cairns Army Airfield, Fort Rucker, Alabama
  • 1st Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment, at Cairns Army Airfield, Fort Rucker, Alabama (Airfield Operations)[7][8]
    • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
    • A Company (Air Traffic Services)
    • Airfield Management Element
  • 3rd Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment, at Simmons Army Airfield, Fort Bragg, North Carolina (Airfield Operations)[4][9][10]
    • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
    • A Company (Air Traffic Services)
    • Airfield Management Element
  • 4th Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment, at Desiderio Army Airfield, Camp Humphreys, South Korea (Airfield Operations)[11]
    • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
    • A Company (Air Traffic Services)
    • Airfield Management Element
  • 2nd Battalion, 130th Aviation Regiment, at Simmons Army Airfield, Fort Bragg, North Carolina (Airfield Operations) (National Guard)[4]
    • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
    • A Company (Air Traffic Services)
    • Airfield Management Element
  • 597th Ordnance Company (Maintenance)

Notes[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Unit History - 164th Theater Airfield Operations Group". https://home.army.mil/novosel/tenants/164th-taog/history. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 "164th Theater Airfield Operations Group". https://home.army.mil/novosel/tenants/164th-taog. 
  3. "2-58th Avn. Regt. inactivates, Soldiers reorganize into companies" (in en). 2016-09-22. https://www.army.mil/article/175604/2_58th_avn_regt_inactivates_soldiers_reorganize_into_companies. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 "NC Guard and Active Duty Air Traffic Control Units:" (in en). https://www.dvidshub.net/news/198922/nc-guard-and-active-duty-air-traffic-control-units. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 CurrentOps.com. "164th Theater Airfield Operations Group" (in en). https://currentops.com/unit/us/army/164-taog. 
  6. FM 3-04 Army Aviation, Section IV 'Aviation Battalions and Squadrons'.
  7. "1st Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment | Lineage and Honors | U.S. Army Center of Military History (CMH)". https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/av/058av001bn.htm. 
  8. Thaggard, Lt Col Andy (2023-03-08). "Soldiers return safely to Alabama from Horn of Africa" (in en-US). https://alabamanewscenter.com/2023/03/08/soldiers-return-safely-to-alabama-from-horn-of-africa/. 
  9. "3rd Battalion 58th Aviation Regiment Change of Command" (in en-us). https://ncwg.cap.gov/news/ncwgnews/3rd-battalion-58th-aviation-regiment-change-of-command. 
  10. "Mission - About 3-58th Airfield Operations Battalion". https://home.army.mil/liberty/units-tenants/3-58th-airfield-operations-battalio. 
  11. "4-58th Airfield Operations Battalion the Air Traffic Control Unit of the Year" (in en). 2017-03-21. https://www.army.mil/article/184614/4_58th_airfield_operations_battalion_the_air_traffic_control_unit_of_the_year. 

References[]