5-159th GSAB

01/14/2026

Good morning Dragon Masters.

To comply with Army Directive 2025-25, all official military pages below the 1-star level across the Department of War are to be archived and deatived by January 30th, 2026.

Soldiers are encouraged to download any media on the 5th Battalion page before final deactivation.

As the majority of Army Reserve Aviation Command units conduct final deactivation ceremonies, updates will be delivered via the ARAC page.

After 32 years of service, to all Dragon Master soldiers past and present, it has been an honor. 🇺🇸🫡

10/01/2025

Combined, Army Reserve CH-47 flight crews currently on flight status logged an extraordinary 238,148.6 flight hours, a remarkable share of the Army’s combat aviation experience today. With 185 crew members manning a fleet of 36 Chinooks, USAR Chinook crews concluded operations with a breathtaking average of 1,287 flight hours per crew member.

Thank you to the USAR Standardization sections for compiling the data on this outstanding achievement.

Deactivated Army Reserve Chinook Companies:
Bravo Company, 5-159th “Freight Train” — Fort Eustis, Virginia
Bravo Company, 7-158th “Spartans” — Olathe, Kansas
Fox Company, 2-135th “Combat Team Hooker” — JBLM, Washington

09/17/2025

For those who could not be there in person, HHC's Change of Responsibility this past weekend is now live on YouTube.

Today marked the Last Change of Responsibility HHC 5-159th will conduct, before folding the flags for the last time and casing the colors in September of 202...

09/14/2025

Today marked the Last Change of Responsibility HHC 5-159th will conduct, before folding the flags for last time and casing the colors in September of 2026.

It is a unique and special moment for both our organization and Army Reserve Aviation as a whole.

At approximately 1300 today, HHC Company 5-159 bid farewell to 1SG Jerry Rubinos as the outgoing 1SG. His tireless service and dedication led 5th BN to many expeditions across the globe 🌍, including across the Atlantic to Norway's 🇳🇴 North Pole for operation Euro Defender 2025.

After 26 years of service to the United States Army, 1SG Rubinos passed the guide on and responsibility to 1SG Michael Mallett . As the incoming 1SG of 5th Battalion's Headquarters company, he will embrace a unique set of challenges rarely seen by senior leaders as we start to inactive Army Reserve Aviation Command. 1SG Mallett has been one of Dragon Master's most stead fast leaders with 3 deployments and 15 years of service in multiple companies across the Dragon Master formation including as a Flight Engineer & Flight Instructor.

Godspeed to 1SG Rubinos on your next endeavors.

Welcome, 1SG Mallett as HHC's Senior NCO.

09/08/2025

Amazing 11 Chinook multi-ship flight to mark our sister Battalion's last Chinook flight.

Outstanding display Spartans!!

09/05/2025

Weapons free!

08/26/2025

A U.S. Army Medevac Unit honored the Tampa Bay Area with a Final Formation flight.

08/05/2025

08/04/2025

B/5-159th GSAB FREIGHTTRAIN flight crews execute their last major formation flight before Army Reserve Aviation begins inactivating flight units as part of the FY 26 Army Restructure.

A Flight of 6 Chinooks completed a farewell fly over of the Hampton Roads area, largely concluding the distinctive sound of freedom characteristic of the chinook's double rotor system.

Thus, Bringing an end to 31 years of CH-47 Freight Train operations at Fort Eustis, Virginia.

Thank you to the Hampton Roads community for your support, we will miss you!

To the Soldiers of 5-159th GSAB, outstanding way to go out 👍.





244th ECAB
Army Reserve Aviation Command

08/03/2025

Video of B/5-159th GSAB FREIGHTTRAIN's last large formation flight from Felker Army Airfield, launching 6 Chinooks simultaneously.





244th ECAB
Army Reserve Aviation Command