The
35th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) traces its origins to the late Cold War era. It was first stood up in October 1988 as the 635th Aviation Group and activated on 16 September 1989 to provide command and control of Missouri Army National Guard aviation units. Following four years of service, the group was inactivated in August 1993 as part of a post–Cold War force reduction The headquarters was reestablished on 24 March 1997 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Aviation Brigade, 35th Infantry Division, in Warrensburg, Missouri. In 2003, the headquarters relocated to Sedalia, Missouri, where it remains today, and was redesignated as the 20th Aviation Brigade (Theater). On 2 January 2009, the unit became Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Combat Aviation Brigade, 35th Infantry Division. In 2018–2019, the brigade again deployed to the Middle East for
Operation Spartan Shield and
Operation Inherent Resolve, operating under the call sign Task Force Trailblazer. The 35th CAB commanded aviation elements from multiple states. Over the course of the deployment, the brigade executed more than 14,000 missions and nearly 10,000 flight hours, transported more than 41,000 personnel, and moved over 14 million pounds of cargo throughout the Combined Joint Operations Area. The brigade also played a supporting role during the
Battle of Baghuz Fawqani in Syria, the final major battle against ISIS’s territorial caliphate. ==Organization==