About the 66th Theater Aviation Command

As a proud member of America's Corps, the 66th Theater Aviation Command (TAC) is First Corps primary aviation asset. The 66th TAC counts more than 5,300 Army National Guardsmen from 15 states in its ranks and has peace-time command and control over all Washington Army National Guard aviation units based on Fort Lewis.

The 66th TAC Headquarters regularly participates in First Corps exercises to include the corps Warfighter exercise, Yama Sakura, the 25th ID Warfighter, and Ulchi Focus Lens. Participating in these exercises helps us hone our warfighting skills, and brings soldiers from our different units together.

Army National Guard aviation has been on Fort Lewis since 1951. In the past fifty-two years there have been many significant changes in force structure and hardware. We currently have a mix of aircraft that supports both the Army mission, and state emergencies. We operate seven CH-47’s, eight UH-60s, and two C-23s, giving us a mix of both rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft here at Fort Lewis.

The 66th TAC supports the Army and Fort Lewis in several ways. We support the 4th Region ROTC with CH-47s and UH-60s during their Advance Camp. Our Sherpas are used by local active duty and Guard Special Forces for airborne operations. Our UH-60s are also used to support the 25th Infantry Division's Air Assault School. And many local units rely on our aircraft to help them train their soldiers in sling load operations.

In addition to our lift assets, both here at Fort Lewis and in several other states, the 66th TAC has AH-64 Apaches attack helicopters, with battalions in Idaho, Arizona, and South Carolina. The AH-64 has the flexibility to perform deep attack, reconnaissance and screening missions.

Our State missions are many and varied, but perhaps the most visible is our support to firefighting operations. The 66th TAC has been involved in firefighting missions every summer since 1994. Our CH-47s are capable of dropping 2,000 gallons at a time, and our UH-60s can drop 660 gallons.

The 66th TAC also provides support to civil authorities in the event of natural disasters, such as earthquakes and floods, and in the event of civil disturbance. We are able to provide state and federal emergency management staff with an unobstructed view of disaster areas.

While our aircraft are valuable platforms for warfighting and disaster relief, our most valuable assets are our Guardsmen. Since the tragic events of September 11th, 2001, many of our members have served in the Global War on Terrorism. 66th TAC soldiers have participated in OPERATION NOBEL EAGLE as airport security personnel, enhanced security at the Canadian border, and continue to provide additional security forces at Fort Lewis, and at McChord and Fairchild Air Force Bases. Additionally, many of our members have volunteered to deploy on overseas missions.

Amidst this high operational tempo, the 66th TAC remains focused on, and committed to, mission preparedness.  Our citizen soldiers, our aircraft and our units stand ready to answer the call to perform any mission, anywhere, anytime, with speed, courage, and power.

66th TAC

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