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70-452: The Deployable Specialized Forces purpose is to develop systems and processes for standardized training, equipment , organization, planning, and scheduling of rapidly deployable specialized forces to execute mission objectives in support of tactical and operational commanders. Since 2007, the unit has deployed throughout the world in support of national interests and requirements as tailored and integrated force packages. This included response to

140-492: A California airport, forcing over twenty of them to "hunker down" in a hangar at Inyokern Airport , resulting in wounds to two soldiers that required stitches. "The soldiers' names were redacted in the photo shared on social media—but one was identified as a staff sergeant and the other as a captain." On November 12, 2023, details emerged about a UH-60 Black Hawk crash landing in the Mediterranean Sea 30 miles off

210-544: A MH-60M Black Hawk of the 160th performed a hard landing at Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia. One soldier, CPT Clayton Carpenter of NY (posthumously promoted to MAJ), was killed with another two injured. On 4 July 2014, during Operation Inherent Resolve , the Night Stalkers inserted Delta Force operators into Syria to rescue James Foley and other US hostages. One American was wounded, no hostages were found, but

280-802: A cold water familiarization diving accident in the Arctic aboard U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy . Regional Dive Locker East (RDLE) is located at Portsmouth, Virginia , Regional Dive Locker West (RDLW) is located at San Diego, California or Regional Dive locker Pacific (RDLP) which is located in Honolulu, Hawaii. Tactical Law Enforcement Teams provide specialized Law Enforcement Detachments (LEDET) to conduct counter-narcotics law enforcement and Maritime Interdiction Operations from U.S. and allied naval vessels . There are currently two units, Tactical Law Enforcement Team South based in Opa-locka, Florida and

350-461: A compound. With some troops on the ground, a large insurgent force ambushed them. Both helicopters were struck by small arms fire. One MH-47E pilot put his aircraft in the line of fire to protect the other MH-47E as its assault team disembarked. An RPG hit the shielding MH-47E, whose pilot crash-landed with no serious injuries to operators or aircrew. The Ranger commander and an attached 2nd Commando Regiment operator organised an all-round defence while

420-962: A crisis and establish operations within 24 hours of arrival. PSU's are the only Coast Guard unit that uniquely train and provide ground combat security capability for the Coast Guard if needed. Other units that PSUs train and integrate with are United States Marine Corps Special Operations Capable Forces and Navy Expeditionary Combat Command or abroad in support of various Department of Defense operations. PSU's receive their initial training at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune 's Special Missions Training Center . Port Security units are trained and equipped to provide: The DSF has two Regional Dive Lockers that provide full-time diving capability for three primary missions: Ports and Waterways Coastal Security (PWCS); Aids to Navigation (ATON); and ship husbandry and repair in remote polar regions. The Dive Lockers, which became fully operational on October 1, 2008, following

490-468: A new unit. (Original members of the Night Stalkers refer to it as "the day the Eagles came off". ) Originally created as Task Force 160 when the 101st Airborne Division was commanded by Jack V. Mackmull from June 1980 to August 1981. When the command was formally organized as a regiment, Mackmull was chosen to serve as its honorary colonel. The unit was officially established on 16 October 1981, when it

560-506: A nurse and an American missionary couple, a MH-47 crashed at sea in the southern Philippines ' Bohol Strait , killing 10 servicemen (eight from E company, 160th SOAR and two from the 353rd Special Operations Group ). In March 2002, Night Stalkers from B Company, 2nd Battalion, 160th SOAR supported coalition troops during Operation Anaconda , particularly at the Battle of Takur Ghar on 4 March, where one of their MH-47Es, callsign Razor 03,

630-999: A permanently assigned crew and accommodations for the extended support of that crew. The Coast Guard operates about 1,402 boats, defined as any vessel less than 65 feet (20 meters) in length, which generally operate near shore and on inland waterways. The most common is 25 feet (7.6 m) long, of which the Guard has more than 350. The shortest is 13 feet (4.0 m). The Coast Guard operates about 210 aircraft. Fixed-wing aircraft, such as Lockheed HC-130 Hercules turboprops , operate from Air Stations on long-duration missions. Helicopters ( Aérospatiale HH-65 Dolphin and Sikorsky HH-60J Jayhawk ) operate from Air Stations, Air Facilities, and flight-deck equipped cutters, and can rescue people or intercept smuggling vessels. Some special MH- designated helicopters are armed with guns and some are equipped with armor to protect against small arms fire. The Coast Guard flies several aircraft types: The Coast Guard

700-529: A rescue mission for Marcus Luttrell , after their MH-47 Chinook helicopter was hit by an RPG ( rocket propelled grenade ). They were sent out to look for Luttrell after Operation Red Wings , in which he was involved with three other SEALs, was compromised and Luttrell's teammates killed. In March 2006, SEALs from DEVGRU and Rangers were flown by the 160th SOAR into in North Waziristan , Pakistan , to assault an al-Qaeda training camp, allegedly under

770-729: A senior leader in Abu Sayyef . A U.S. Predator drone marked the person with an infrared laser as he tried to escape in a smuggler's boat. The MH-47Es trained searchlights on the boat while operators from the Philippine Naval Special Operations Group opened fire, killing the terrorist leader and capturing four other terrorists with him. Later in 2002, in Afghanistan, Task Force 11 (previously known as Task Force Sword but renamed in January 2002)

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840-591: A separate detachment, and incorporated one Army National Guard unit, the 1st Battalion, 245th Aviation (OK ARNG). In 1987 and 1988, its pilots took part in Operation Earnest Will , the protection of re-flagged Kuwaiti tankers in the Persian Gulf during the Iran–Iraq War . They flew from US Navy warships and leased oil barges in a secret sub-part called Operation Prime Chance , and became

910-490: A soldier, Sergeant First Class James R. Stright, 29, and injured eight others, three seriously. In May 2011, the Night Stalkers took part in the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound . The operation involved flying covertly into Abbottabad , Pakistan in a pair of MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, specially modified for stealth and piloted by the 160th SOAR, to take a team of Navy SEALs directly to bin Laden's compound. While one of

980-647: A substantial number of terrorists were killed. CENTCOM mistakenly posted a video on the internet of a flight of four MH-60Ms of the 160th SOAR conducting a mid-air refueling over Iraq in October 2014, the video was hastily taken down. On 26 November 2014, MH-60s flown by Nightstalkers took part in the first raid in the 2014 hostage rescue operations in Yemen . The Night Stalkers continue to be deployed to Afghanistan as part of NATO's Resolute Support Mission after Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan ended in late 2014 and

1050-474: A wide geographical area using very high frequency and high frequency radios. There are eight major radio stations covering long-range transmissions and an extensive network of VHF radio stations along the nation's coastline and inland rivers. The current communication system is the Rescue 21 . Rescue 21 is an advanced maritime command, control, and communications (C3) system. The OMEGA navigation system and

1120-519: Is Ours". MSRT Special Capabilities include: MSRT members are selected through experienced maritime law enforcement members, often selected from MSST and TACLET teams. Many of these members are already highly trained and qualified when selected. Maritime Safety and Security Teams (MSSTs) are counter-terrorism (Force-Presence) units created under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) in response to

1190-583: Is a special operations force of the United States Army that provides helicopter aviation support for special operations forces. Its missions have included attack, assault, and reconnaissance, and these missions are usually conducted at night, at high speeds, low altitudes, and on short notice. Nicknamed the Night Stalkers and called Task Force Brown within the JSOC , the 160th SOAR(A)

1260-501: Is commanded by a captain . Naval Coastal Warfare (NCW) These Coast Guard units are part of an interoperable force and are part of the Department of Defense international and domestic security. Similar to PSU's they provide anti-terrorism / force protection for forward deployed base camps and ports around the world where needed. Coast Guard billets assigned to NCW Groups support NECC expeditionary ops. The Port Security program of

1330-529: Is headquartered at Fort Campbell , Kentucky . The 160th SOAR(A) consists of some of the Army's best-qualified aviators , crew chiefs, and support soldiers. Officers are all volunteers; enlisted soldiers volunteer or are assigned by the U.S. Army Human Resources Command . Until 2013, only men were allowed to be pilots in the 160th. Upon joining the 160th, all soldiers are assigned to "Green Platoon", in which they receive intensive training in "advanced methods of

1400-916: Is the Coast Guard's special operations -capable element, but it is not a part of United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), as the Coast Guard does not operate under the Department of Defense. Missions of deployable specialized forces units include high-risk, high-profile tasks such as counter-terrorism , diving operations, intelligence-cued boarding operations, Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure , threat assessments involving nuclear , and biological , or chemical weapons , as well as detecting and, if necessary, stopping or arresting submerged divers . Deployable Specialized Forces also had health services technicians who were attached to medical teams operating within differing commands. These technicians supported roles in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other areas with Navy and Department of Defense groups. Deployable Specialized Forces manages Coast Guard personnel assigned to

1470-457: Is very similar to the FBI test or applying to a local or state police agencies SWAT team. The units have an indoctrination phase sometimes referred to as "Green Team". Each unit member will go through water survival training. The Tier One Fitness test is: The Tier Two fitness is: The United States Coast Guard is the only military branch with law enforcement capabilities to board and seize. Under

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1540-703: The 2010 Haiti earthquake , in support of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico , and more recently deploying specialized counter piracy boarding teams to the Middle East, such as Operation Ocean Shield , where TACLET and MSST teams part of Combined Task Force 151 were an integral role in Somali counterpiracy. In addition, since 2007, DSF units have taken part in nine of the 11 largest maritime cocaine seizures . Deployable Specialized Forces

1610-1000: The LORAN -C transmitters outside the USA were run until 1994 also by the United States Coast Guard, and LORAN -C transmitters within the US were decommissioned in June 2010, with the exception of 5 CONUS LORAN -C stations that continue to be staffed due to international agreements. 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Operation Restore Hope Operation Red Wings Operation Gothic Serpent Global War on Terrorism Operation Enduring Freedom Iraq War Operation Inherent Resolve Al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) , abbreviated as 160th SOAR(A) ,

1680-589: The Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act and UN resolutions, its mission includes seizing drugs in international waters or on behalf of partner nations. Equipment of the United States Coast Guard Originally, the Coast Guard used the term cutter in its traditional sense, as a type of small sailing ship. Larger cutters, over 181 feet (55 m) in length, are controlled by Area Commands,

1750-598: The Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC). The unit also had a high level of involvement in the Coast Guard SEAL Program; candidates could attend United States Naval Special Warfare Training and serve with Navy SEAL teams . While the program is currently suspended, there are still several Coast Guardsmen serving on SEAL teams. Deployable Specialized Forces (DSF) is composed of around 2,000 Coast Guard personnel, including

1820-588: The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 . The eleven MSSTs provide both waterborne and shore-side counter-terrorism and force protection for strategic shipping, high interest vessels, and critical infrastructure. MSSTs are a quick response force capable of rapid worldwide deployment via air, ground or sea transportation in response to changing threat conditions and evolving Maritime Homeland Security (MHS) mission requirements. Multi-mission capability facilitates augmentation for other selected Coast Guard missions. Other units and federal agencies that MSSTs train with are

1890-530: The 11-hour mission, establishing a new world record for combat rotorcraft. The troops—two 12-man Green Beret teams from the 5th Special Forces Group dubbed Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 555 and 595 plus four Air Force Combat Controllers —linked up with the CIA and Northern Alliance . Within a few weeks, the Northern Alliance, assisted by U.S. ground and air forces, captured several key cities from

1960-436: The 159th Aviation Battalion. The chosen pilots immediately entered intensive training in night flying. This provisional unit was dubbed Task Force 158, since most of its pilots were Black Hawk aviators detached from the 158th. Their distinctive 101st "Screaming Eagle" patches remained on their uniforms. The Black Hawks and Chinooks continued to operate around Campbell Army Airfield at the north of post, and Saber Army Heliport at

2030-518: The 160th SOAR took part in the Objective Beaver mission, a raid by DEVGRU on a complex known as al Qadisiyah Research Centre that was suspected to have stocks of chemical and biological weapons. On 1 April 2003, the 160th SOAR took part in the rescue mission of PFC Jessica Lynch who was taken prisoner during the Battle of Nasiriyah . On 2 April, a Delta Force squadron operating in Iraq

2100-487: The 160th. The basic Night Stalker course for enlisted soldiers lasts five weeks; the officer course lasts 20 to 28 weeks. A new Night Stalker pilot arrives at a unit as Basic Mission Qualified (BMQ). After a series of skills test qualifications, experience, leadership, and oral review boards lasting up to three years, the Night Stalker is designated Fully Mission Qualified (FMQ). After three to five years as an FMQ,

2170-532: The 1989 invasion of Panama , and they were also used in Operation Desert Storm in 1991. In October 1993 in Somalia , Night Stalkers became involved in the Battle of Mogadishu , which later became the subject of the book Black Hawk Down , and its film adaptation . Two Night Stalker Black Hawks, Super 6-1 (piloted by Cliff Wolcott), and Super 6-4 (piloted by Mike Durant ), were shot down in

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2240-500: The 1st Battalion 101st Aviation Regiment escorting the helicopter, put their Apache directly between the U.S. troops, the helicopter and the enemy forces to draw the fire. As a result, the extraction was a success. The Washington Post reported that 160th SOAR took part in the Yakla raid in Yemen on 29 January 2017, distinguishing itself when its helicopters flew repeatedly into heavy enemy fire to support U.S. Navy SEALs pinned down on

2310-667: The 2008 SOCOM counter-terror exercises in Denver. On 24 April 2008, Company D, 3rd Battalion, 160th SOAR was inactivated at a ceremony conducted at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, as part of a regimental transformation plan. The 160th SOAR also took part in the 2008 Abu Kamal raid . On 19 August 2009, four Night Stalkers from D Company, 1st Battalion, 160th SOAR lost their lives in a MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crash in Leadville , Colorado, during mountain and environmental training. On 9 September 2009 in Afghanistan, Night Stalkers inserted

2380-542: The Army, Air Force 24th Special Operations Wing , Secret Service , Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), ATF, the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) & (BORSTAR), the Customs and Border Protection Special Response Teams (SRT), and other various SWAT/Special Mission Units. Their motto, as seen on their unit patch, is "Nox Noctis est Nostri", which translates from Latin to English is "The Night

2450-579: The Atlantic Area or Pacific Area. Smaller cutters come under control of district commands. Cutters usually carry a motor surf boat and/or a rigid-hulled inflatable boat . Polar-class icebreakers (WAGB) carry an Arctic survey boat (ASB) and landing craft. Any Coast Guard crew with officers or petty officers assigned has law-enforcement authority (14 USC Sec. 89) and can conduct armed boardings. The Coast Guard operates 243 Cutters, defined as any vessel more than 65 feet (20 m) long, that has

2520-765: The British SBS and SFSG into Kunduz Province to rescue Times journalist Stephen Farrell after he and his Afghan interpreter were captured by the Taliban. On 19 September 2009 in Somalia, the Night Stalkers took part in Operation Celestial Balance , whose target was a senior terrorist leader connected to al-Qaeda affiliated organizations. The assault force (4 AH-6M Little Birds and 4 MH-60L Black Hawks) carried in DEVGRU operators to kill or capture

2590-543: The Coast Guard can be traced back all the way back to 1917 with the passage of the Espionage Act and due to the Black Tom explosion . Port Security Units are deployable expeditionary security and anti-terrorism units similar to Marine Corps Security Force Regiment . Unlike any other Coast Guard Units, Port Security Units are the only sustained forward deployable unit, with the ability to deploy within 96 hours of

2660-725: The Iraqi military of any early warning of the coming invasion. As the sites were eliminated the first heliborne SOF teams launched from H-5 airbase in Jordan, including vehicle-mounted patrols from the British and Australian special forces, who were transported by the MH-47Es of the 160th SOAR. Night Stalkers from 1st Battalion 160th SOAR were tasked with supporting Task Force 20 with its MH-60L/K Black Hawks, MH-60L DAPs, MH-6M transport and AH-6M Little Birds; they were based at Ar'Ar . On 26 March,

2730-694: The MSRT's focus is primarily on the safety and security of homeland defense, it is capable of rapidly deploying worldwide in response to incidents. Other specialized units and federal agencies that MSRTs routinely train with are the United States Navy Seals , Special Boat Teams (SWCC), Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) of the Navy, Maritime Raid Force , Force Recon of the Marine Corps, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) of

2800-818: The Navy's Special Boat Teams , Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue (BORSTAR), CBP Air and Marine Operations , FBI, and other various SWAT Teams. MSST special capabilities include: The National Strike Force (NSF) was established in 1973 as a direct result of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 . The NSF provides highly trained, experienced personnel and specialized equipment to Coast Guard and other federal agencies to facilitate preparedness for and response to oil discharges , hazardous materials releases, and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) incidents. The National Strike Force (NSF) includes five units with over 200 active duty , civilian, reserve , and auxiliary personnel. It

2870-568: The Night Stalker may try out for flight lead qualification. SOAR flight medics can qualify as special operations combat medics by completing the 36-week long Special Operations Combat Medic (SOCM) course at Fort Liberty . After the April 1980 Operation Eagle Claw attempt to rescue American hostages held in Tehran , Iran, failed, President Jimmy Carter ordered former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James L. Holloway III to figure out how

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2940-883: The Pacific Area Tactical Law Enforcement Team (PACTACLET) based in San Diego , California . The Coast Guard formally established the Law Enforcement Detachment program in 1982. Originally, LEDETs operated directly under Coast Guard "groups," local commands that operated under Coast Guard districts. Other federal agencies that TACLETs train with are the DEA Special Response Teams , ATF Special Response Teams , and various local SWAT Teams TACLET groups duties include: The standard unit level testing falls into three levels of physical fitness. The test

3010-472: The September 11th attacks to the daring raid ten years later. On 28 May 2012, Operation Jubilee took place: Black Hawks from the 160th SOAR flew in teams from the British 22 SAS and DEVGRU into Badakhshan Province , Afghanistan so they could rescue a British aid worker, a Kenyan NGO worker and 2 Afghans who were taken hostage by Bandits in the province. The rescue was a success. On 15 January 2014,

3080-672: The Taliban. In November 2001, Night Stalker AH-6J Little Birds took part in Objective Wolverine and Raptor missions and Operation Relentless Strike . In December 2001, Night Stalker crews resupplied more than 150 Delta Force , British Special Boat Service , and CIA Special Activities Division operatives as they hunted for Osama bin Laden in the Tora Bora mountain complex. On 21 February 2002, while scouting Islamist terrorists on Basilan Island as part of Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines and seeking to rescue

3150-463: The U.S. In April 1988, two CH-47 Chinooks, a U.S. Air Force C-5 Galaxy , and 75 maintenance personnel and crew flew to White Sands AFB , New Mexico to rehearse the mission. In late May of that year an advance team went to Ndjamena , Chad, to await their aircraft. Two weeks later two Chinooks and 76 crew members and maintenance personnel arrived by C-5. At midnight on 11 June 1988, two MH-47s flew 490 miles at night without outside navigational aids to

3220-475: The U.S. military could best mount another attempt. At the time there were no U.S. helicopter units trained in this kind of stealthy, short-notice Special Operations mission. The Army looked to the 101st Aviation Group, the air arm of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), which had the most diverse operating experience of the service's helicopter units, and selected elements of the 158th Aviation Battalion, 101st Aviation Battalion, 229th Aviation Battalion, and

3290-508: The battle. Five of the eighteen men killed (not counting a nineteenth post-operation casualty) in the Battle of Mogadishu were members of the Night Stalkers team, who were lost along with the two Black Hawks. During the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan , the Night Stalkers from 2nd Battalion supported two task forces established in early October 2001: Dagger and Sword . (Their unit in TF Sword

3360-419: The codename: Operation Vigilant Harvest, the assaulters killed as many as 30 terrorists including the camps commandant. On 14 May 2006, helicopters from the 160th SOAR brought operators from Delta Force's B Squadron to Yusufiyah , Iraq, to fight al-Qaeda fighters in several buildings. As the operators disembarked their helicopters, they came under fire from a nearby house, and more al-Qaeda fighters soon joined

3430-506: The crash was not a result of enemy action. On 20 August 2018, CW3 Taylor Galvin died from injuries resulting from an MH-60M crash while conducting a partnered counter-terrorism mission in support of the Operation Inherent Resolve. On the morning of September 18, 2021, "according to what appears to be a military incident report shared on Instagram and Reddit", a katana -wielding man attacked several SOAR soldiers at

3500-511: The firefight. The door gunners of the 160th's Black Hawks fired at the insurgents; a pair of AH-6M Little Birds carried out strafing runs. One Little Bird from the 160th's 1st Battalion, B Company, was shot down. An estimated 25 al-Qaeda fighters were killed. In July 2006, a pair of MH-47Es from 160th SOAR attempted to insert a combined strike element of DEVGRU, Rangers, and Afghan commandos in Helmand Province , Afghanistan, to attack

3570-507: The first helicopter pilots to use night vision goggles and forward looking infrared (FLIR) devices in night combat. In June 1988, the unit received a short-notice directive to recover a Soviet made Mi-25 Hind ( Mi-24 Hind export version) attack helicopter from a remote location in Chad . The Hind was abandoned by the Libyans after 15 years of fighting, and was of great intelligence value to

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3640-458: The first strike of Operation Iraqi Freedom was carried out by members of the 160th SOAR, on Iraqi visual observation posts along the southern and western borders of Iraq. The strike groups included one flight of MH-60L DAPs and four "Black Swarm" flights, each consisting of a pair of AH-6M Little Birds; a FLIR-equipped, target-spotting MH-6M; and a pair of U.S. Air Force A-10As. In seven hours, more than 70 sites were destroyed, effectively depriving

3710-422: The five basic combat skills: first responder, land navigation, combatives, weapons and teamwork". The weapons training includes firing thousands of rounds with AK-47 / AK-74 rifles, Beretta M9 pistols, M4/M4A1 carbines, and SIG Sauer M17/M18 pistols. Soldiers who fail to pass the course the first time may retake it, but there is no guarantee that anyone assigned to Green Platoon will pass and continue on with

3780-501: The following unit types: Advanced Interdiction Teams are deployable assets composed of various Coast Guard DSF forces drawn primarily from MSRT and MSSTs. Teams of around 12 operators typically augment U.S. Navy vessels to conduct high-level Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), training, and assistance. Teams specialize in counter-narcotics , counterproliferation , and maritime interdiction operations. Maritime Security Response Team (MSRT) has existed in different incarnations, but

3850-484: The ground. On 25 August 2017, a Black Hawk helicopter flown by the 160th SOAR crashed off the coast of Yemen while conducting hoist training when it lost power and crashed into the sea, six servicemen survived, one US service member remained missing. CNN reported that on 27 October 2017, a US helicopter from 4th Battalion 160th SOAR crashed in Logar province, Afghanistan, killing one and injuring six more US service members;

3920-497: The helicopters crash landed on arrival, all on board survived. The SEALs were successfully inserted onto the property while the crew was able to extract themselves, provide cover for the SEALs and then leave on the other helicopter. The mission was overall considered a success. The dramatic nighttime raid was "painstakingly recreated" in the film Zero Dark Thirty , which covers the CIA's efforts to track down bin Laden, from just after

3990-467: The leader. AH-6Ms strafed the two-vehicle convoy, killing the leader along with three other al-Shabaab terrorists, then carried out an overwatch while DEVGRU cleared the vehicles and recovered the body. On 22 October 2009, a 3rd Battalion helicopter crashed into the USNS Arctic during a joint training exercise involving fast roping about 20 miles off Fort Story , Virginia. The crash killed

4060-577: The other MH-47E held back the advancing insurgents until its miniguns ran out of ammunition. An AC-130 Spectre joined the battle and kept the down crew and passengers safe until a British Immediate Response Team helicopter recovered them. The AC-130 then destroyed the MH-47E wreck, denying it to the Taliban. Elements of 3rd Battalion 160th SOAR have conducted episodic deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom—Caribbean and Central America , begun in 2008. Night Stalker helicopters were present during

4130-411: The south. The OH-6 Cayuses , aircraft that had vanished from the division's regular inventory after Vietnam, were hidden on base in an ammunition holding area still known as the "SHOC Pad", for "Special Helicopter Operations Company". As the first batch of pilots completed training in the fall of 1980, a second attempt to rescue the hostages was planned for early 1981. Dubbed Operation Honey Badger , it

4200-658: The target location, the Ouadi Doum Airfield in northern Chad. The first Chinook landed and configured the Hind, while the second hovered overhead and sling loaded it for return to Ndjamena. A surprise sandstorm slowed the return trip, but less than 67 hours after the arrival of the C-5 in Chad, the ground crew had the Hind and Chinooks aboard and ready for return to the U.S. The Night Stalkers spearheaded Operation Just Cause ,

4270-518: Was ambushed by a half-dozen armed technicals from an anti-special forces Fedayeen . Two MH-60K Black Hawks carrying a parajumper medical team and two MH-60L DAPs of the 160th SOAR responded and engaged the Iraqis, which allowed the Delta operators to move their two casualties to an emergency HLZ. However, one Delta Force operator succumbed to his wounds. On the evening of 13 December 2003, Saddam Hussein

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4340-402: Was called off when the hostages were released on the morning of President Ronald Reagan 's inauguration. Task Force 158 was the Army's only special operations aviation unit, and its members had already become recognized as the Army's premier aviation night fighters. Their capability was judged too useful to lose, and so instead of returning to the 101st, the pilots and modified aircraft became

4410-534: Was captured by U.S. forces in Operation Red Dawn , he was exfiltrated by a MH-6 Little Bird from the 160th SOAR and he was taken into custody at Baghdad International Airport. In 2004 they took part in the rescue of three Italian contractors and one Polish businessman held for ransom by Iraqi insurgents. In Afghanistan in 2005: Eight Night Stalkers (four from HHC and four from Bravo company of 3rd Battalion ) were killed along with eight Navy SEALs on

4480-554: Was composed of DEVGRU, and a company of Rangers, and was supported by a company of helicopters from the 160th SOAR. During the 2003 invasion of Iraq , 3rd Battalion, 160th SOAR, deployed as the Joint Special Operations Air Detachment-West under CJSOTF-West (Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-West/Task Force Dagger). It was equipped with eight MH-47E Chinooks, four MH-60L DAPs, and two MH-60L Black Hawks. At 9 p.m. on 19 March 2003,

4550-470: Was damaged by rocket-propelled grenades and crash-landed carrying Mako 30. A second MH-47E, callsign Razor 01, responded to the shoot down with a Quick Reaction Force ; it was damaged by small arms and rocket-propelled grenades, and crash-landed. One Night Stalker was killed in the battle. On 21 June 2002 in the Philippines, Night Stalker MH-47Es were involved in the operation that killed Abu Sabaya ,

4620-475: Was designated Task Force Brown.) In the evening of 18 October into 19 October 2001, two SOAR MH-47E helicopters, escorted by MH-60L (Direct Action Penetrators) (DAPs), airlifted U.S. troops from the Karshi-Khanabad Air Base in Uzbekistan more than 300 kilometers (190 mi) across the 16,000-foot (4,900 m) Hindu Kush mountains into Afghanistan. The pilots of the Chinooks, flying in zero-visibility conditions, were refueled in flight three times during

4690-400: Was designated as the 160th Aviation Battalion. The 160th first saw combat during 1983's Operation Urgent Fury , the U.S. invasion of Grenada . In 1986, it was renamed the 160th Aviation Group (Airborne); and in May 1990, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). As demand for highly trained special operations aviation assets bloomed, the regiment activated three battalions,

4760-616: Was formally established in 2006. It is one of two units within the Coast Guard that has counter-terrorism capabilities to conduct action against hostile targets. The first is based in Chesapeake, Virginia, the second is based in San Diego, California. The MSRT is trained to be the first response unit to potential terrorist threats, deny preemptive terrorist actions, execute security actions against armed hostiles and/or non-compliant threats, participate in port level counter-terrorism exercises, execute tactical facility entry, and educate other forces on Coast Guard's counter-terrorism procedures. Although

4830-425: Was replaced with Operation Freedom's Sentinel . Throughout that night of 5 December 2015, a group of Rangers engaged in a firefight with enemy troops near the Afghan-Pakistan border; after about 5 a.m. their commander called for an extraction after they learned of a larger enemy group approaching. A helicopter from the 160th SOAR arrived and began receiving heavy fire from the enemy, with an AH-64 Apache helicopter from

4900-452: Was to purchase the Bell Eagle Eye UAV as part of the Deepwater program, but this has been cancelled. The Coast Guard is currently preparing to launch a small UAS competition for the Legend-class NSC and future Heritage-class cutter. In addition to regular Coast Guard aircraft, privately owned general aviation aircraft are used by Coast Guard Auxiliarists for patrols and search-and-rescue missions. Coast Guard radio stations cover

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