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78th Aviation Troop Command

The 78^th Aviation Troop Command comprises over 700 personnel (pilots, aircrew, maintenance, and support) operating from multiple facilities across Georgia: Marietta, Winder and Savannah. The unit balances dual-role responsibilities spanning both global combat and domestic support:

Combat Operations- Mobilize/deploy aviation forces; provide command & control, air movement, air assault, and medical evacuation worldwide
Domestic Response- Support civilian leadership via disaster response, National Special Security Events, and border surveillance non-combat missions

78th Aviation operates a diverse fleet including Black Hawk, Chinook, and Lakota helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft (C-26), and unmanned systems (UAS). Its major units include elements of the 78^th Aviation Troop Command headquarters detachment along with two Aviation Battalions: 1st Battalion 171^st General Support Aviation Battalion and 2-78^th Aviation Battalion.

A LUH-72 Lakota Helicopter of the Marietta-based Company C, 2nd Battalion 151st Aviation Regiment provides assistance to multi-agency operations along the southwest border. Photo by Maj. William Carraway

Eye in the sky

A LUH-72 Lakota Helicopter of the Marietta-based Company C, 2nd Battalion 151st Aviation Regiment provides assistance to multi-agency operations along the southwest border. Photo by Maj. William Carraway

LAREDO, Texas, Nov. 19, 2012 - A Georgia Army Guard UH-72A Lakota light-utility helicopter flies over Laredo, Texas, with the Rio Grande River and International Bridge connecting the U.S. to Mexico in the background. Georgia Guardsmen are providing situational awareness to U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents on the ground while they apprehend illegal immigrants who cross into Texas from Mexico at night.

Patrolling the Rio Grande from the Air

LAREDO, Texas, Nov. 19, 2012 - A Georgia Army Guard UH-72A Lakota light-utility helicopter flies over Laredo, Texas, with the Rio Grande River and International Bridge connecting the U.S. to Mexico in the background. Georgia Guardsmen are providing situational awareness to U.S. Customs and Border...

A Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Agent stands in front of a Georgia Army National Guard LUH-72 Lakota before they take off on an aerial detection and monitoring mission as part of Operation River Watch II on the U.S. border with Mexico in Texas. The Georgia National Guard volunteered to deploy to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas for all of 2014 to support the Border Patrol in their mission to prevent the entry of terrorists, weapons of mass destruction, illegal contraband, and to disrupt illegal aliens from crossing the river into the United States. (Georgia Army National Guard photo by Maj. Will Cox/Released)

Georgia Army National Guard eyes in the sky over Texas’ Rio Grande Valley sector

A Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Agent stands in front of a Georgia Army National Guard LUH-72 Lakota before they take off on an aerial detection and monitoring mission as part of Operation River Watch II on the U.S. border with Mexico in Texas. The Georgia National Guard volunteered to deploy to...

HUNTER ARMY AIR FIELD, Savannah, Ga. Apr. 25, 2013 – Chinook Flight Engineers from Spain’s Army Air Force crossed the pond to train with some of the Army National Guard’s finest before deploying to Afghanistan. Georgia’s Army National Guard Chinook unit out of Savannah hosted the Spaniards and conducted a variety of training including sling load operations, pinnacle landings, dust landings, confined area operations, and water bucket operations.

(Georgia Army National Guard photo by Spc. Charles Stevenson / Released)

Spanish Flight Engineer Training

HUNTER ARMY AIR FIELD, Savannah, Ga. Apr. 25, 2013 – Chinook Flight Engineers from Spain’s Army Air Force crossed the pond to train with some of the Army National Guard’s finest before deploying to Afghanistan. Georgia’s Army National Guard Chinook unit out of Savannah hosted the Spaniards and...

Georgia Army National Guard’s Detachment 1, Bravo Company, 1-169th General Support Aviation Battalion conducts multi ship flight training near Savannah Ga. These crew members are preparing for a deployment to Afghanistan in the spring of 2014.

(Georgia Army National Guard photo by Maj. Will Cox/Released)

Georgia Guardsmen train in Savannah for deployment

Georgia Army National Guard’s Detachment 1, Bravo Company, 1-169th General Support Aviation Battalion conducts multi ship flight training near Savannah Ga. These crew members are preparing for a deployment to Afghanistan in the spring of 2014. (Georgia Army National Guard photo by Maj. Will...

Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 170th Military Police Battalion and the 78th Aviation Troop Command conduct "Operation Door Kicker" at Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, Gainesville, Georgia, July 12, 2025. This exercise focused on breaching tactics, suppressive fire, and testing air rescue operations under fire—critical skills that are imperative for mission success, force protection, and operational lethality. (Photos by Staff Sergeant Robert Whitlow)

Heading In

Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 170th Military Police Battalion and the 78th Aviation Troop Command conduct "Operation Door Kicker" at Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, Gainesville, Georgia, July 12, 2025. This exercise focused on breaching tactics, suppressive fire, and...

Georgia Army National Guard’s Det. 1 Charlie 1-111th General Support Aviation Battalion trains to provide Aero-medical Evacuation support throughout the week under day, night and night vision conditions to be Always Ready, Always There and Always on Target. (Georgia Army National Guard Photo by Maj. Will Cox Released)

Night Flight

Georgia Army National Guard’s Det. 1 Charlie 1-111th General Support Aviation Battalion trains to provide Aero-medical Evacuation support throughout the week under day, night and night vision conditions to be Always Ready, Always There and Always on Target. (Georgia Army National Guard Photo by...

A CH-47 of the Ga. Army National Guard's Bravo Company 1-169th General Support Aviation Battalion departs on mission from Army Aviation Support Facility Number 3 at Hunter Army Airfield Jan. 8, 2019.

Ga. Guard CH-47

A CH-47 of the Ga. Army National Guard's Bravo Company 1-169th General Support Aviation Battalion departs on mission from Army Aviation Support Facility Number 3 at Hunter Army Airfield Jan. 8, 2019.

A U.S. Army HH-60M Blackhawk helicopter assigned to the Georgia National Guard's Charlie Company 1-111th General Support Aviation Battalion takes off following a tail-to-tail transfer of simulated casualties with a Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft assigned to the Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd Airlift Wing in Perry, Georgia, March 25, 2025. The mission supports continuity of care objectives by validating rotary-to-fixed-wing interoperability in a joint medical evacuation environment. Approximately 700 participants from the National Guard and federal, state, and local agencies are participating in Patriot 25, a National Guard-sponsored exercise designed to enhance domestic response readiness and interagency coordination. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Megan Floyd)

Army and Air National Guard

A U.S. Army HH-60M Blackhawk helicopter assigned to the Georgia National Guard's Charlie Company 1-111th General Support Aviation Battalion takes off following a tail-to-tail transfer of simulated casualties with a Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft assigned to the Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd...

A Georgia Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk from the Marietta based, 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment, lifts off rapidly after inserting Georgian special forces during an urban operations exercise at the Vaziani Training Area on Aug 5, 2018 during Noble Partner 18. The exercise highlights the 24 years the two militaries have worked together under the U.S. National Guard’s State Partnership Program.

U.S Army photo by Staff Sgt. R. J. Lannom Jr

Up and Away

A Georgia Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk from the Marietta based, 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment, lifts off rapidly after inserting Georgian special forces during an urban operations exercise at the Vaziani Training Area on Aug 5, 2018 during Noble Partner 18. The exercise highlights...

Georgia Army National Guard LUH-72 Lakota helicopters of the 78th Aviation Troop Command fly over the Georgia State Capitol at the close of the ceremonial review of the troops by Governor Brian Kemp during his Jan. 14, 2019 inauguration at the Georgia State Capitol

Georgia State Capitol Building Flyover

Georgia Army National Guard LUH-72 Lakota helicopters of the 78th Aviation Troop Command fly over the Georgia State Capitol at the close of the ceremonial review of the troops by Governor Brian Kemp during his Jan. 14, 2019 inauguration at the Georgia State Capitol

78th Aviation Troop Command, Marietta: News Photos

Subordinate Battalions

1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment, Marietta: News Photos
2nd Battalion, 78th Aviation Troop Command, Marietta

Army Aviation Support Facility No. 1, Winder
Army Aviation Support Facility No. 2, Marietta: News
Army Aviation Support Facility No. 3, Savannah
Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations Facility, Ft. Stewart

Command Team

COL Chris Buck

Official Photo

CSM Meara Brown

Click Here For Bio Click Here For Bio

Mission Statement:
The 78th Aviation Troop Command provides responsive, operational Aviation formations to Geographic Combatant Commanders in support of Unified Land Operations (ULO); and when required, provides the Governor with aviation capabilities in support of Domestic Response operations here at home.

Vision Statement:
To be a model ARNG aviation state through professionalism, innovation and an unparalleled dedication to excellence in training, readiness, and stewardship. To be fully equipped with modernized systems and facilities, committed to customer service in support of our state and national objectives and initiatives.