The demise of the OH-58D. What will happen to my beloved Air Cavalry?

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 19:13:23 -0400

No more Kiowas. Air Cavalry is a close knit group. There were just of hand full of places we could go (other than the sandbox) so we practically all knew each other. Seeing a 58D flying overhead is synonymous with being in contact, yet we are putting them out to stud. What a sad time for the ground pounders and convoys. If I were king..........

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Aug 10 at 2014 8:24 PM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Sun, 10 Aug 2014 20:24:03 -0400

I hate to see the Kiowas go away. Air superiority is needed on the battlefields and we should adjust other equipment numbers to maintain the fleet of Kiowas in my own opinion. Pilots in 2-17 CAV saved us and did a great job in 07-08.

Response by TSgt Terry Hudson made Aug 15 at 2014 5:52 AM

TSgt Terry Hudson — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 05:52:19 -0400

Oh wow!

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Aug 15 at 2014 5:55 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 05:55:43 -0400

The unit I retired from is the first to retire. Very sad times in the air cavalry community. If you loved the OH58D, please send a shout out to the troops. Please share your stories and your opinions of the current restructuring and planned reallocation of aviation assets. AIR CAV!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2014 11:48 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 23:48:56 -0400

They'll get bigger guns.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Aug 24 at 2014 4:39 AM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 04:39:21 -0400

I loved my time with A Troop 3/4 CAV back in the day. We were the ground scouts for the two KW Troops. Nothing better as a PSG in a ground convoy than having a SWT overhead. We had some great pilots and I still keep in touch with as many as I can. Good times. Definitely going to be missed.

Response by SGT Thomas Lucken made Sep 19 at 2014 1:47 PM

SGT Thomas Lucken — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 13:47:48 -0400

I thought it was sad when we did away with the old Blue's Platoons we have in the Air Cav!!!!!

1988, Korea was the last of them and were shutdown then! Was sad to see them go!!!!

Response by SFC Erin Barnett made Sep 19 at 2014 2:27 PM

SFC Erin Barnett — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 14:27:21 -0400

True “Air Cav” troops were put to bed in the 80's. A true air troop had a gun plt, lift plt, scout plt, blues (19 deltas) plt, HQ, and Maint. What was a troop, (or 1 company for those of you not Cav), back in the day is now a battalion. It was even commanded by an 05. I stood in formation just as sad as everyone else when we rolled up the guidon for D Troop 4th/12th. We had 9 Cobras, 10 Kiowa's, and 7 Huey’s. We knew things were going down hill when the Army invented the attack BN with only 12 Apaches. Next they changed our mission from “Search & Destroy” to “Eyes & Ears of the Commander” and we lost our 19D's. Then we were no more.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Sep 19 at 2014 2:34 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 14:34:42 -0400

Is the role going away or merely a platform change? The former is the death of "cavalry" as a battlefield function, the latter is merely the evolution from going from horse to vehicle. The mount changes, the mission is the same (Cavalry in name vs cavalry in function).

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Dec 1 at 2014 3:32 PM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 15:32:15 -0500

End of an era in Afghanistan and in our Army. We've had this conversation before SFC Mark Merino, our KWs were angels over our shoulders on the ground in 3/4 CAV in Afghanistan. Sad times...

http://www.fayobserver.com/military/with-the-troops-kiowa-pilots-have-been-protecting-soldiers-on/article_14e480cb-306f-5b97-98db-52d7705165d9.html

Response by SGT Thomas Lucken made Dec 1 at 2014 5:40 PM

SGT Thomas Lucken — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 17:40:02 -0500

1988 - 5th Sqdn, 17th Cav - Squadron Change of Command! Ground and Air, all proud to be Cav! :-)

Response by LTC Paul Mullins made Dec 9 at 2014 1:15 PM

LTC Paul Mullins — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 13:15:59 -0500

Sad to see them go! I couldn't believe it when I heard it. I had also decided to retire and told the wife it was a sign that it was definitely time to go. I enjoyed flying them tremendously and was glad I didn't get the Apache I asked for!

I loved shooting the Browning and rockets a lot! HELLFIREs were fun, but I enjoyed gun runs and wagon wheels much more! 1-17 Cav

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jan 21 at 2015 11:20 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 23:20:21 -0500

The King is Dead....Long Live the King. The final Kiowa Warrior has left the reset facility. The end of an era.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v= [login to see] 52805&set=vb [login to see] 37031&type=2&theater

Bell Helicopter | Facebook

After more than forty-five years in production, Bell Helicopter delivered the last OH-58D Kiowa Warrior cabin to U.S. Army this week. We are proud of the...

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jan 23 at 2015 10:26 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 10:26:58 -0500

I was on Davis Monthan AFB yesterday and say it for my own eyes. A line of Kiowas (almost a full squadron) fully shrink-wrapped among the F-16's and other retired badasses. Very sad.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2015 10:53 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 22:53:00 -0400

The Kiowa is a good airframe, but they are bringing in the Lakotas as a main airframe to replace it. It's good to keep advancing in technology.

Response by SSG Christopher Freeman made Apr 1 at 2015 2:40 PM

SSG Christopher Freeman — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 14:40:37 -0400

They may be going away, but the 82nd CAB is still using theirs. They are actually conducting their Aerial Gunnery. Hell of an airframe. First time we requested air support, Kiowas came. Never have I been so happy to see helicopters.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2015 4:23 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 04:23:35 -0400

The OH-58 is and has been a workhorse for Army Aviation nearly 6 decades. It has more than earned its stripes. That being said, the airframe has seen so much equipment added, and its mission expanded so much that it's
More or less promoted itself out of a job. I think the phase out plan, especially for the soldiers tied to that community is a little harsh, but it was definitely time

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Aug 30 at 2015 2:45 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 14:45:11 -0400

Kiowas at rest in the boneyard. Very sad.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Aug 30 at 2015 4:09 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 16:09:42 -0400

SFC Mark Merino I hate to see it go, the OH-58 was a great recon copter. Hopefully the rest of the force will carry on brother.
http://www.vhpa.org/prod01.htm

Helicopter unit web sites

Response by SGT Jonathon Caldwell made Aug 30 at 2015 5:13 PM

SGT Jonathon Caldwell — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 17:13:22 -0400

Would much rather have SWT any day asking where do we shoot vs. prick AWT guys asking "do you have an O-5 or higher signature for us to engage". Sure let me tell haj timeout so I can get these guys the ok to kill you. Love the air cav guys. They'll throw everything the got on board to help a grunt out. Even their grenades.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 2 at 2015 10:03 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 22:03:13 -0400

If it weren't bad enough that a few Squadrons are already in the boneyard, the crews from 3/17 CAV arrived with theirs today and they are en route to the shredder. The SHREDDER!!!!!

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 8 at 2015 5:38 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 17:38:47 -0400

8 more just flew overhead 30 minutes ago. Either it started to drizzle or the pilots were in tears. This group is heading to the shredders. I have no words.