7-17 Cavalry Squadron receives new commander on Army Birthday

By Capt. Taylor CriswellJune 15, 2022

7-17 Cavalry Squadron receives new commander on Army Birthday
1 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Robert Sickler stands in front of the 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, June 14, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Marlina Corbin) (Photo Credit: Cpl. Marlina Corbin) VIEW ORIGINAL
7-17 Cavalry Squadron receives new commander on Army Birthday
2 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – HOHENFELS, Germany—1st Air Cavalry Brigade held a change of command ceremony between outgoing commander Lt. Col. Matthew Minear and incoming commander Lt. Col. Robert Sickler, June 14, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Marlina Corbin) (Photo Credit: Cpl. Marlina Corbin) VIEW ORIGINAL
7-17 Cavalry Squadron receives new commander on Army Birthday
3 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – HOHENFELS, Germany—1st Air Cavalry Brigade held a change of command ceremony between outgoing commander Lt. Col. Matthew Minear and incoming commander Lt. Col. Robert Sickler, June 14, 2022. (Photo Credit: Cpl. Marlina Corbin) VIEW ORIGINAL
7-17 Cavalry Squadron receives new commander on Army Birthday
4 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Reggies Harper congratulates outgoing commander of 7-17 Cavalry Squadron, Lt. Matthew Minear, during an award ceremony prior to the squadron change of command, Hohenfels Training Area, June 14, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Marlina Corbin) (Photo Credit: Cpl. Marlina Corbin) VIEW ORIGINAL
7-17 Cavalry Squadron receives new commander on Army Birthday
5 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – HOHENFELS, Germany—Command Sgt. Maj. Angelo Rickert receives the squadron colors from incoming commander, Lt. Col. Robert Sickler, June 14, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Marlina Corbin) (Photo Credit: Cpl. Marlina Corbin) VIEW ORIGINAL
7-17 Cavalry Squadron receives new commander on Army Birthday
6 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – HOHENFELS, Germany—1st Air Cavalry Brigade held a change of command ceremony between outgoing commander Lt. Col. Matthew Minear and incoming commander Lt. Col. Robert Sickler, June 14, 2022. (Photo Credit: Cpl. Marlina Corbin) VIEW ORIGINAL
AH-64 Apaches in action during Combined Resolve 17
7 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army AH-64 Apache assigned to 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade conducts aerial operations during Combined Resolve 17, Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Germany, May 26, 2022. Combined Resolve 17 is a United States Army Europe and Africa directed, 7th Army Training Command executed training event at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center to exercise combined arms operations in a multinational environment. The exercise features approximately 4,800 Soldiers from Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Kosovo, Lithuania, Moldova, North Macedonia, Poland, and the United States. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jason Greaves) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jason Greaves) VIEW ORIGINAL
1st Air Cavalry Brigade moves aircraft to Poland
8 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, which is in Europe for Atlantic Resolve, moves AH64 Apaches and UH60 Blackhawks from Greece to Poland to support the United States’ decision to increase its presence and activities in Europe as part of its strong and unremitting commitment to our NATO allies and partners. (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell) VIEW ORIGINAL

HOHENFELS, Germany—1st Air Cavalry Brigade held a change of command ceremony yesterday between outgoing commander Lt. Col. Matthew Minear and incoming commander Lt. Col. Robert Sickler.

The 1st Air Cavalry Brigade (1ACB) commander Col. Reggie Harper hosted the event held appropriately in an aircraft hangar against a backdrop of two AH-64 Apaches and an RQ-7 Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle.

“The Palehorse Troopers were fortunate to have Lt. Col. Minear at the helm for the last two years,” stated Harper. “Under Matt’s leadership, the Palehorse Squadron quickly reset from their deployment to Korea, trained relentlessly with one gunnery per quarter, led the way in the 1st Cavalry Division’s People First initiatives and deployed just over 15 months later to Europe.”

“I want to recognize the Palehorse Troopers you see standing in formation and the others they represent across Europe standing watch and keeping the faith together with our NATO partners at a critical time in history,” Harper continued.

7-17 Cavalry Squadron “Palehorse” is truly one of the most battle-tested aviation units in the U.S. Army, etching its legacy during Vietnam and the Global War on Terror. The squadron is currently deployed as part of 1ACB throughout Europe for Atlantic Resolve.

“Our Army and this unit are about people, not the aircraft we fly or the vehicles we drive,” Minear stated during his remarks. “The Troopers stand ready to defend what we hold true, an ideal that is a rallying cry for countries across the world, and an Army that others want to emulate.”

Minear’s next position is as a student at the Senior Service College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.

During the current rotation, the strategic placement of 7-17’s AH-64 Apache helicopters have provided an unmatched deterrence and defense posture for the U.S. military and its NATO partners and allies.

Lt. Col. Sickler, an AH-64 pilot, comes to “Air Cav” after serving as the Concepts and Innovation branch chief in the United States Army Europe- Africa G5 plans division.

“When our nation needed to move a lethal fighting force across a continent with almost no notice in order to achieve strategic objectives, it called on Task Force Palehorse,” Sickler said during his speech. “The international situation remains dynamic, and I am proud to be joining a team that is without exaggeration the vanguard of freedom in our world.”

Sickler has an extensive resume as both an attack pilot, operations officer and former aide de camp for the commanding general of the U.S. Aviation Center of Excellence. His assignments include time as the 2-25 Assault Helicopter Battalion executive officer and the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade as both operations officer and executive officer. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the U.S. Military Academy, a Master of Military Studies from Marine Corps University and a doctorate from Arizona State University.

The 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade from Fort Bliss, Texas, will replace the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade later this year to support the United States’ commitment to Atlantic Resolve.

For more information about Atlantic Resolve, visit https://www.europeafrica.army.mil/AtlanticResolve/