With an Army that is continuously evolving and becoming more technologically advanced, Soldiers and civilians from the local community gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new unmanned aircraft system facility May 2 at Fort Riley's Marshall Army Airfield.
The facility is home to Company F,1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.
Col. John M. Cyrulik, commander of the 1st CAB, reflected on the first hangars built on Fort Riley more than 90 years ago. He said those original facilities housed canvas and plywood biplanes, which at the time were cutting-edge technology.
Cyrulik said the world-class aviation training and maintenance facility will support the latest in advanced aviation technologies, the MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft system and the "Phoenix" company Soldiers that are responsible for operating and maintaining the systems.
"This is the result of years of effort by many dedicated men and women of our Fort Riley and 'Big Red One' team and continued support by local, state, federal officials and partners," Cyrulik said.
Maj. Gen. Wayne W. Grigsby Jr., 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley commanding general, agreed with Cyrulik.
"This is historic event that took many people to pull off," Grigsby said. "This is just one more example of how our combined efforts make Fort Riley the best place to live, train, deploy from and come home to in the Army."
Grigsby said Fort Riley has a surprising link to aviation history, in spite of being a cavalry post.
Grigsby dove further into history, stating that in 1921, the Fort Riley Flying Field was selected as a cross-country refueling point and the home of the 16th Observation Squadron. The location and proximity to the Smokey Hill Flats and the Kansas River was ideal for both the Army and local residents. Once the facilities and hangars were completed in 1923, it was proclaimed Marshall Field after Brig. Gen. Francis C. Marshall, the assistant chief of cavalry, who died in a plane crash in 1922.
"Now, Marshall Army Airfield is the place where Army aviation will forge a foundation of training and tactics that will take advantage of the enhanced and modern technological advances in aviation," Grigsby said. "It will extend the commander's battlefield, decrease the risk to air assets and improve aviators' situational awareness without compromising their attack positions."
Grigsby said this hangar and the entire Aviation Center of Excellence demonstrate the hard work leaders and the community have put into making sure Soldiers have the very best training before they go into combat.
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