5 Aviation Regiment turns 20 and is presented with a guidon.
21 November - Soldiers from 5 Aviation Regiment turned out on their flight line parade ground on November 20 to celebrate the unit’s 20th birthday and be presented with an honour no other Army Aviation unit has ever received.


The regiment - formed on November 20, 1987 - is now the first Army Aviation unit presented with a guidon.

Governor-General Major-General Michael Jeffery presented the guidon and also informed the soldiers that he had approved the award of a Meritorious Unit Citation to 5 Aviation Regiment for “outstanding service, particularly in support of operations in East Timor and Afghanistan”.

“Your professionalism, dedication and courage in carrying out your duties during a period of high operational tempo are in the finest traditions of the Australian Army and have been pivotal to the success of many Australian and Coalition missions,” he said.

The parade was also attended by Defence Minister Brendan Nelson, Chief of Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, Chief of Army Lieutenant-General Peter Leahy and the Regiment’s first Commanding Officer, Brigadier Bill Mellor.

The current Commanding Officer of 5 Aviation Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Prictor, said the event was momentous.

“This is a significant and traditional extension of Army Aviation’s recognition as a combat arm in 2001. Infantry battalions have their colours, aviation and cavalry units have guidon's,” he said.

“After finally receiving the guidon, it is a pretty special moment. The Regiment’s soldiers have been working extraordinarily hard, particularly over the last eight years.”

The unit’s three squadrons - consisting of one Black Hawk, one Iroquois and one Chinook squadron - have been on almost continuous operational service since 1999.