The 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade has a distinguished history. Originally designated as the 3rd Aviation Company, it was activated and assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning, Ga., July 1, 1957.

On Nov. 16, 1984, the company was provisionally activated as the U.S. Army’s first combat aviation brigade in a mechanized infantry division. The brigade was officially activated as the 4th Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, March 15, 1985, but was inactivated on Aug. 16, 1991. The brigade was reactivated at Fort Stewart when the 24th Infantry Division was re-designated as the U.S. Army’s first modular combat aviation brigade, Feb. 16, 1996.

The 3rd CAB’s achievements include deployments to Kuwait in support of Operation Desert Thunder, Bosnia-Herzegovina for Stabilization Force 8 and three tours to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 3rd CAB supported the Era of Persistent Conflict as an active component in the Army’s surge force in Afghanistan. The 3rd CAB is the first brigade-sized element from the 3rd ID to serve in Operation Enduring Freedom.

During the run-up to deployment, the brigade executed extensive training in the deserts and mountains of Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. This high-altitude training ensured the force was organized trained and ready to provide full-spectrum aviation operations in Afghanistan.

The 3rd CAB uncased their colors in Afghanistan November 2009 and officially took on the name Task Force Falcon. The task force is comprised of more than 5,200 Soldiers, nearly 300 airframes and is partnered with 5 other countries to include aviation forces from Afghanistan, Poland, Czech Republic, Korea and France. The brigade is task organized with six multifunctional task forces, an aviation support battalion and integrated Reserve and National Guard components.

The deployment to OEF created an extraordinary chapter in the 3rd CAB’s history. For the past year TF Falcon, under the leadership of Col. Don Galli and Command Sgt. Maj. Rick Stidley, has conducted combat and COIN operations in the RC-East region of Afghanistan. They’ve provided much needed humanitarian relief efforts to both Afghanistan and Pakistan. The 3rd CAB has served with honor and distinction. They surpassed the standards set by every brigade-level task force before them. The Marne Air Soldiers have amassed a significant record of accomplishments that reflects distinct credit on the rich heritage and traditions of the 3rd CAB and the 3rd ID.

The 3rd CAB was recognized for its efforts in its most recent deployment to Afghanistan by the Army Aviation Association of America when it was announced as the winner of the Aviation Brigade of the Year award, Feb. 11, 2011

On June 15, 2011, the 3rd CAB welcomed Col. Allan Pepin to the Falcon family as its newest commander. Under his leadership, the 3rd CAB deployed nearly 70 Marne Air Soldiers, nine UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and with support equipment from Hunter Army Airfield, Ga. to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. and Fort Bragg, N.C., as part of the federal response effort to Hurricane Irene. Currently, the 3rd CAB remains on call as part of the Global Response Force responsible for relief efforts around the world.

All the accomplishment of TF Falcon and the Marne Air Team would not be possible without the support of their families, who have endured 4 deployments within the past seven years, making the 3rd CAB the most deployed combat aviation brigade in the Army.