CAMP TAJI, Iraq-An AH-64D Apache attack helicopter (left) flies alongside an Iraqi UH-1 Huey (right), during a joint air mission between 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, and 2nd Squadron of the Iraqi Air Force. (U.S. Army photo)

FORT HOOD (June 21, 2012)—Fort Hood’s 1st Battalion, 229th Air Cavalry Squadron will move to Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State and convert into an attack/reconnaissance battalion, the Department of the Army announced Thursday.

The move means a loss of 402 troops from Fort Hood, the Army said.

The move will be completed by Oct. 15, the Army said.

Company D, 123rd Aviation Regiment, which is now at Fort Wainwright in Alaska, will also move to the post in Washington.
The relocations are the final phase of the activation of the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the Army said.

“These actions incorporate the Army Force Generation Model and Army Transformation initiatives, both of which are required to achieve the Army's goal of rebalancing the force," the Army said.

"Overall, these unit relocations will help the Army meet the increased demand placed on its aviation assets and provide combatant commanders with flexible, trained and highly-mobile forces to execute operations worldwide,” the Army said.