Fort Rucker - Military Facilities

Military Facilities

Coordinates:

• Fort Rucker: 31°20′12.29″N 85°42′41.53″W / 31.3367472°N 85.7115361°W / 31.3367472; -85.7115361
• Cairns Army Airfield: 31°16′37.77″N 85°42′47.27″W / 31.2771583°N 85.7131306°W / 31.2771583; -85.7131306
• Hanchey Army Heliport: 31°20′37.62″N 85°39′11.88″W / 31.3437833°N 85.6533°W / 31.3437833; -85.6533
• Knox Army Heliport: 31°19′7.65″N 85°40′25.16″W / 31.3187917°N 85.6736556°W / 31.3187917; -85.6736556
• Lowe Army Heliport: 31°21′17.63″N 85°44′55.35″W / 31.3548972°N 85.7487083°W / 31.3548972; -85.7487083
• Shell Army Heliport: 31°21′45.14″N 85°50′56.09″W / 31.3625389°N 85.8489139°W / 31.3625389; -85.8489139
• Ech Army Heliport: 31°23′33.00″N 85°45′8.96″W / 31.3925°N 85.7524889°W / 31.3925; -85.7524889

The U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence is the dominant military facility at Fort Rucker. Training, doctrine, and testing are all key parts of the Center's mission to develop Army Aviation's capabilities. All Army Aviation training has been undertaken at Fort Rucker since 1973, as well as training of US Air Force and ally helicopter pilots. The Center is home to the US Army Aviation Technical Test Center (ATTC), which conducts developmental aircraft testing for Army Aviation. The United States Army Operational Test and Evaluation Command's Test and Evaluation Coordination Office and TH-67 primary and instrument training are both located at Cairns Army Airfield.

Operational units on the post include the 1st Aviation Brigade and the 110th Aviation Brigade handling Army Aviation training, and the USAF 23d Flying Training Squadron for the training of Air Force helicopter pilots.

The 110th Aviation Brigade consists of five battalions using three different sites. 1st Battalion, 11th Aviation Regiment, operates and manages air traffic control services and flight simulation support for USAAVNC/Fort Rucker and the National Airspace System. 1st Battalion, 14th Aviation Regiment operates from Hanchey Army Heliport and conducts graduate level training using the AH-64D Apache Longbow and OH-58D Kiowa helicopters. 1st Battalion, 212th Aviation Regiment operates from Lowe Army Heliport and Shell Army Heliport and conducts combat and night operational training, using the OH-58, UH-1, and UH-60 helicopters. 1st Battalion, 223d Aviation Regiment operates from Cairns Army Airfield and Knox Army Heliport and conducts flight training using the CH-47 Chinook helicopter and C-12 Huron aircraft. The Helicopter School Battalion operates from Shell Army Heliport and, providing training for Latin American pilots under the United States Security Cooperation Program.

Additionally, due to the large number of warrant officers stationed there, the Warrant Officer Candidate School and Warrant Officer Career College are both located at Fort Rucker. Aviation branched warrant officers remain at Fort Rucker to complete flight training and the Aviation Warrant Officer Basic Course. Upon completion of their training, aviation warrant officers receive the Army Aviator Badge.

Fort Rucker is often referred to as "Mother Rucker", both as an insulting pseudo-homonym, and in deference to the birth of an Army Aviator's career and his or her constant return to the Post for continued training and responsibility throughout their career. It is common knowledge in an Army Aviation career, that "Everyone returns to Mother Rucker", because of the frequency of pilot training and re-education.

Support and other facilities at Fort Rucker include the Lyster Army Health Clinic, United States Army Aeromedical Research Lab, United States Army School of Aviation Medicine, and Army Aviation Museum.