JOHNSTOWN - The 1-104th Aviation Attack Reconnaissance Battalion of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard will deactivate later this month.
In its place will be another company of 10 aircraft that are currently stationed in Tennessee.
One company of Apache aircraft will stay in the area, but will be under a different flag or name.
They will be designated as C Company 151 Attack Battalion, with headquarters in South Carolina. There will be six H 64s in Johnstown under the new company, Charlie 151 Attack.
Col. Robert Allison of the battalion explained no one is leaving Johnstown, only the aircraft. He added the deactivation will transfer soldiers to other aviation jobs here.
Allison said the decisions to transfer soldiers were made with consideration for their military service.
"They can continue their service to the country and to the commonwealth and still remain part of the war-fight capability for the United States Army," Allison said.
The deactivation comes after the Army National Guard returned to its 2+2 Agreement, which splits six battalions among the states. Allison also said this might not be the unit's final move.
"Right now, we truly don't know coming into the fiscal year 2017, which starts Oct. 1, what changes or how this may change," Allison said.
The deactivation ceremony will be held in Johnstown July 23.
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