New patch, new lineage, new digs

Photo By Capt. Patrick Sawicki | Lt. Col. Adam Lange, commander of 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, cuts the ribbon to Hangar 5 on Fort Wainwright, Alaska, Oct. 10, 2013, while wearing the new unit patch, 2nd Infantry Division, on the left sleeve. The building is more than 135,000 square feet, which will enable the unit to secure 27 OH-58D helicopters and still have room for troop headquarters offices and briefing rooms. (U.S. Army photo by Staff. Sgt. Cecilia Clark, U.S. Army Alaska)  

FAIRBANKS, AK, UNITED STATES

10.10.2013

Story by Capt. Patrick Sawicki 

United States Army Alaska

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska – It was a cool and crisp October morning at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Puddles were frozen and Soldiers could see their breath in the frosty morning air. That was not enough to dampen their spirits at the 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment’s patch ceremony, followed by the ribbon cutting of their new hangar, Hangar 5.

The unit recently re-aligned changing their affiliation from the 25th Infantry Division to the 2nd Infantry Division. The unit will now wear the 2nd Infantry Division patch. A ribbon-cutting ceremony immediately followed, as the new $67 million hangar will become home to the newest 2 ID members.

Army units have a specific composition and disposition that best allow that unit to accomplish its mission. Realignments and restructuring are not new to the Army. These moves occur when the Army needs to fill shortages in one unit and reduce excess in another.

“There was a brigade that did not have a cavalry squadron – that brigade is in Korea, and a cavalry squadron that did not have a brigade – that was us here in Alaska,” said Lt. Col Adam Lange, of 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment commander.

Although the unit has changed its alignment, it will remain at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, in their newly-constructed hangar. Hangar 5 is a $67 million dollar facility (dollar amount was already mentioned) with over 135,000 square feet of space, consolidated arms rooms, briefing rooms, operational areas and even a tower.

"We had a smaller hanger that not all the helicopters could fit in, so we had to spread them out over several facilities on the airfield as well as our maintainers. And our headquarters were in separate buildings, so Hangar 5 is going to allow us to bring all the aviation specialties into one facility," said Maj. Adam Camarano, 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, executive officer.

Although the unit changed arm patches, their mission in Alaska remains the same.

Camarano said, "Right now we’ll still be supporting USARAK here on Fort Wainwright and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and we continue to look forward to support anyone else that we are required to."

• Date Taken: 10.10.2013
• Date Posted: 10.16.2013 14:14
• Story ID: 115227
• Location: FAIRBANKS, AK, US