244th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade
Military unit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
| 244th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade | |
|---|---|
 244th Aviation Brigade shoulder sleeve insignia | |
| Active | 16 September 1988 – present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army Reserve |
| Type | Composite Brigade |
| Role | Daily 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 of |  Army Reserve Aviation Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Knox, kentucky |
| Motto | "Wings of The Hawk" |
| Insignia | |
| Distinctive Unit Insignia |  |
| 244 AVIATION BRIGADE SUBDUED DESERT SSI |  |
| 244th Aviation Brigade Flag |  |
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]
Abbreviations: CAC — Command Aviation Company; MEDEVAC — Medical evacuation; AVUM — Aviation Unit Maintenance; FSC — Forward Support Company; ATS — Air Traffic Services
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]
- Company E (Forward Support), 5th Battalion (General Support Aviation), 159th Aviation Regiment, at Fort Eustis (VA)[12]
- 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]
