The 66th Theater Aviation Command, formerly known as the 66th Aviation Brigade, is deployed across fifteen states located in the northwest United States. One of two Theater Aviation Commands (TAC) in the United States military, the 66th carries out a variety of domestic federal and state missions. These missions include natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and forest fires, operations such as border control and security, and assisting in the event of civil disturbance. It has proven particularly useful in firefighting operations. Using aircraft such as the UH-60 Blackhawk and the CH-47 Chinook, the 66th provides aerial views of disasters areas to federal and state emergency staff. The Chinook is also capable of delivering huge payloads of water (it can carry and offload some 2,000 gallons of water), one reason the unit has been involved in firefighting efforts during every summer since 1994.
The 66th is equally capable of fighting abroad as it is providing aid at home. Since the September 11th attacks, many of its Guardsmen have served in the War on Terror, with soldiers from the 66th serving in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Related ItemsThe unit’s CSIB was approved for the 66th Aviation Brigade on July 19th 1989, and redesignated for the 66th Aviation Command on June 14th 2007 and again when the unit was designated a Theater Aviation Command in 2008. It is identical to the Command's
Unit Patch. The insignia shows a Peregrine falcon upon a white lightning bolt, a reflection of the original mission of the 66th: to attack enemy combatants and armor from above. This imagery served as the inspiration for the unit's nickname of “Falcon Brigade,” an appellation still used despite the switch to Command rather than Brigade status.
Whether carrying out combat operations or lending its expertise and technical prowess to address emergency situations, the 66th's actions serve as a testimoney to its motto of “Speed, Courage, Power.