The 4th Attack Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment was inactivated Thursday, making it the first Kiowa unit to be shut down as part of the Army’s aviation restructuring initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The squadron eventually will be reactivated, however, as an Apache squadron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The squadron at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, is part of the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade. Soldiers from the unit recently returned from a nine-month tour in South Korea, where it served as the first U.S. rotational land force in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Army’s aviation restructuring initiative calls for the Army to divest its fleet of the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter and use the AH-64 Apache to fill the Kiowa’s reconnaissance and scout role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It would pull Apaches from the National Guard inventory to fill the gap, and the Army will in turn provide the Guard with UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This plan, which also includes cutting three active-duty aviation brigades, has been controversial from the start, drawing criticism and opposition from lawmakers and Guard advocates reluctant to lose the Apache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Army leaders, who have pushed for months for the initiative, said the move is necessary because of ongoing budget cuts. The initiative will save the Army about $12 billion over the next several years, beginning with $2 billion in fiscal 2015 alone, officials said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In July, the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee approved a 2015 spending bill that lets the Guard keep the Apaches and specifically opposes the helicopter transfer, the Associated Press reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bill has not been approved by the full Senate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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