The Army announced Monday that about 500 soldiers, their 150 dependents, and the 24 AH-64 Longbow helicopters of the 1st Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment – known as the “Gunfighters” – will be transferred to Fort Carson.

The battalion will train at Fort Carson before heading to Iraq in fall 2009, the Army said in a release. The battalion’s Aviation Intermediate Maintenance unit also will move to Fort Carson, officials said.

“We’re happy to have the unit coming here,” post spokeswoman Dee McNutt said Monday, “and we will quickly begin to prepare for the soldiers and families and make sure they have a warm welcome and everything they need to help them make the move.”

The Apache battalion will replace the 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, which is starting to return from Iraq. About 50 soldiers are due back today after 14 months at war.

Soldiers of that squadron flew reconnaissance and security missions in support of 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division. The squadron flies OH-58 Kiowas, which are single-engine, single-rotor, observation and light attack helicopters.

“It is further proof of the quality of our state’s military installations,” Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., said in a statement, “and affirms my long-held position that Colorado’s rugged terrain and high altitude offer ideal training ground to prepare our nation’s military helicopter pilots for combat.”

Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., said the unit will benefit the local economy.

The Gazette

Pam Zubeck

Fort Carson Relocation Information