12th Aviation Battalion
The 12th Aviation Battalion is a unit of the United States [Army Aviation Branch]. It is responsible for many rotary-wing flight operations for government officials in the National Capital Region, the area around Washington DC. The 12th Aviation Battalion is immediately subordinate to The Army Aviation Brigade and operates the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk.
Mission
The battalion is a unit of The Army Aviation Brigade under the Military District of Washington (MDW). Its primary mission is to provide executive transport, aeromedical evacuation, and operational aviation support to senior government officials, including the President, Vice President, Secretary of Defense, and other senior military leaders. The battalion is also responsible for homeland security, contingency response, and emergency operations within the NCR.Organization
In addition to its headquarters company, the 12th Aviation Battalion comprises three helicopter companies, a maintenance company, and an airfield service/base operation/air traffic control company.History
The 12th Aviation Battalion was activated in 1966 to move senior officials by helicopter. Initially, it operated a mix of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft to transport senior military leaders and government officials.In September 2004, 12th Aviation Battalion stopped operating the Bell UH-1 Iroquois.
In June 2014, it stopped operating the UH-72 Lakota.