JBLM's 16th CAB Gets 15 New Helicopters on Friday

University Place's to Joint Base Lewis-McChord has a big day Friday.

will welcome the arrival of 10 AH-64 Apache and five UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters Friday afternoon as 1st Battalion, 229th Aviation Regiment begins its relocation from Fort Hood, TX to Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

After a three-day journey from Fort Hood, a distance of more than 2,200 miles, the AH-64 aircraft will touch down here marking the first time in base history that Apache helicopters will be stationed at JBLM. Approximately 500 personnel, 13 more Apache and five more Blackhawk helicopters will arrive in the coming months. The transition is scheduled for completion by mid-August.

The move of the 1-229 Avn. Regt. is a part of Army aviation’s ongoing transformation to a modular force and consolidation of units across the Army.

The addition of the battalion on post will make 16th CAB the fourth largest brigade on JBLM. With units located on JBLM, as well as at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, the 16th CAB is the largest aviation brigade in the Army.

In early 2013, 1-229’s existing fleet of AH-64 Block I Apaches will be replaced with the more technologically-advanced Block III models. The 16th CAB will be the second unit it the Army to receive the newest variation of the AH-64.

The new air assets will allow the 16th CAB to work in a multifunctional task-force configuration using various types of aircraft. In addition, there will be greater joint training opportunities amongst the units on JBLM.