Military reductions complicate plans to move Apaches to Wheeler field

Wheeler Army Airfield expects to get 24 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters starting next spring amid ongoing budget uncertainty and a fight over Apaches the Army wants to pull from U.S. National Guard units to outfit active-duty units.

The retirement of aging OH-58 Kiowa Warrior scout helicopters — including 25 such choppers at Wheeler in February — combined with the active-duty and Guard tussle over Apaches, has left Hawaii without a dedicated attack helicopter battalion.

On top of a 40,000-soldier reduction just announced to reach 450,000 active-duty troops, the Army said it would be forced to reduce several additional brigades and possibly an aviation brigade and division headquarters to be at an even lower 420,000 if sequestration is not adjusted next year.

While some see the helicopter gap within the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade as a potential for further Hawaii losses, the 25th Infantry Division says the Apache replacement plan remains on track.

“Right now we have no indication that the process will change from what has been planned and the manner in which we’re moving forward,” said division spokesman Lt. Col. Will Griffin.

In terms of economic impact, the recently announced 1,214-soldier cut at Schofield is expected to translate into a $99 million loss in sales, according to the Army.

When the Kiowas of the 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, were retired in February, most of the Hawaii unit’s 400 soldiers were sent to South Korea on a nine-month “rotational” tour, using helicopters already there.

Upon its return to Wheeler, the unit will transition from an armed reconnaissance squadron to a heavy-armed reconnaissance squadron with Apache training scheduled to begin next spring and continue into fiscal 2017, the 25th Division said.

As part of what’s known as the “Aviation Restructure Initiative” across the Army, Kiowa scout helicopters are going away and being replaced by Apaches paired with Shadow and Gray Eagle unmanned aerial vehicles. The Army said the restructuring “avoids” $12 billion in near-term costs.

When the UAVs are expected to arrive in Hawaii is unclear, but an Army report said Hawaii will receive 12 Shadows as part of the Apache plan.

In the meantime a “small number” of Apache helicopters will be on Oahu early next year for training, the Army said.

Eight AH-64E Guardian Apaches, the latest model, were shipped to Hawaii from Colorado in June 2014 for temporary training here. Four of those choppers were deployed to the Asia-Pacific region for exercises with other nations.

The 25th Combat Aviation Brigade was supposed to get Apaches from a National Guard unit. How the plan is proceeding now is not entirely clear, the division said.

A July 2014 Army report said that an Apache battalion recently moved from Fort Carson, Colo., to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., “could be diverted to Wheeler” on an accelerated timeline.

The Army National Guard has opposed plans to take away its Apaches to give them to active-duty units. Black Hawk utility helicopters would be given to the Guard instead.

Twelve Apaches already have been transferred to the regular Army, and in fiscal 2016, which starts Oct. 1, 36 more are expected to go, Breaking Defense reported in late April.