The 1st Aviation Company (Infantry Division) was constituted, allotted to the Regular Army and assigned as an organic element of the 1st Infantry Division. The unit was activated on 15 February 1957 General Order 18, Fifth United States Army, 14 February 1957, at Ft. Riley, Kansas. The unit was designated the 1st Aviation Battalion, 23 October 1963. Company "A" and Company "B" were constituted and allotted to the Regular Army as organic elements of the 1st Aviation Battalion and activated at Ft. Riley, Kansas, effective 22 January 1964.

Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment was transferred from Ft Riley to USAPAC 17 October 1965. De-activated 15 April 1970 at Fort Riley. General Order 149, Fifth US Army, 24 March 1970. Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st Aviation Battalion, re-designated 21 April 1972 as Aviation Company, 1st Infantry Division, and activated at Fort Riley, Kansas. Reorganized and re-designated 2 September 1981 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Aviation Battalion. (organic elements concurrently activated). 16 November 1987, relieved from assignment to the 1st Infantry Division; Headquarters and Headquarters Company concurrently re-organized and re-designated as the 1st Aviation, a parent regiment under the United States Army Regimental System

"A" Company (Airmobile light) was transferred from Ft Riley to USAPAC 1 May 1965. Gunship Platoon performed aerial fire support tasks. Performed courier, resupply, command and liaison. An UH-1 (Huey Gunships and Slicks), AH-1 (Cobra), Oh-6A (Loach) unit. De-activated effective 15 April 1970 in Vietnam. General Order 149, Fifth US Army, 24 March 1970
21 April 1972 became Aviation Company, 1st Infantry Division. 2 September 1981 again became 1st Aviation Battalion. 16 November 1987, became 1/1st Aviation Regiment. An AH-64 (APACHE) unit 24 February 1991, 1/1st Aviation took lead for the VII Corps attack into Iraq. 15 September 1995,in-active at Ft Riley. 16 February 1996, activated and transferred to at Katterbach, Germany, 4th Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. 24 December 1996, 1/1st Aviation deployed NATO-SFOR. 31 October 1997, Katterbach, Germany. June 1999 into Serbian province of Kosovo. Command of Aviation Task Force in Kosovo around the end of 1999.

After battalion underwent training in small arms gunnery, aerial gunnery, live-fire exercises (LFX) and numerous rotations at the Combat Maneuver Training Center (CMTC) in preparation for future operations, it went to Iraq as part of OIF2, and is presently stationed at Fort Riley makeing ready to return to Iraq Summer 2007, as part of the 1st ID, CAB, as an "Attack Battalion".

"B" Company (General Support) was transferred from Ft Riley to USAPAC 17 October 1965. Provided command and control capability to Division Commander, Assistant Division Commanders and the three Brigade Commanders. ASTA platoon performed visual, electronic and photographic reconnaissance. An UH-1 (Huey Slicks), OV-1 (Mohawk) unit. De-activated effective 15 April 1970 in Vietnam. General Order 149, Fifth US Army, 24 March 1970
16 Nov 1987 re-designated 2/1st Aviation Regiment. a UH-60 (Blackhawk) unit, with 1st Inf Div.
1996/97 station in Bosnia and the Former Yugoslavia in support of IFOR and SFOR operations. As of 14 Sept. 1999 stationed Ansbach,Germany. 2-1 Aviation Regiment has a multi-faceted mission. As part of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division we provide command and control, air movement, and air assault capability for the Division and other USAREUR units. There are five companies within the Battalion. HHC is the command company, Alpha and Bravo are the assault helicopter companies, Charlie Company is the command aviation company, and Delta Company is the unit aviation maintenance company.

The Battalion was split between on-going preparation and training for combat operations and supporting our Task Force 1-1 Aviation detachment deployed in Kosovo.

The Battalion returned to Germany, the deployed to Iraq as part of OIF2. Upon completation the Battalion return to Germany. In 2006 the Battalion returned to Fort Riley with the Division, as is currently making ready for deployment to Iraq as part of the new "Combat Aviation Brigade", as a "General Support Aviation Battalion"