Hotel Company

Hotel Company
Staff
CO	MAJ J. Novix
XO	CPT E. Bradbury
COS
IG
AG
CSM
AOO	1LT W. Decker
Hierarchy
Superior Unit	Battalion Headquarters
Reporting Units	1st Platoon, Hotel Company
Esprit De Corps
Unit Motto	"Death waits in the dark!"

Hotel Company, 2nd Ranger Battalion is an Aviation Company tasked with providing aviation support to Alpha Company, 2nd Ranger Battalion. It is administratively known as H/4-160th. Hotel Company is borrowed from the 4th Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Organizationally, Hotel Company is attached and under the command of 2nd Ranger Battalion.

Mission

Hotel Company is the aviation wing of 2nd Ranger Battalion. 160th SOAR (A) aviators represent the foremost in aviation skill and members are held to the highest standards of flying excellence. Hotel Company is divided into four flights with specific tasks during operations that include Intelligence Security Reconnaissance (ISR), Close Air Support (CAS), Resupply, and Transportation/Reinsert. Hotel Company Aviators are 153A Rotary Wing Aviators, 155A Fixed Wing Aviators, and 15A Aviation Officers.

Hotel Company is tasked with providing Aviation support to the Battalion, both rotary and fixed wing. Members of Hotel Company are primarily MOS 153 and 155 (Rotary and Fixed Wing Aviators), supported by 15A Aviation Officers. The Company operates a wide range of aircraft Rotary aircraft include the UH-60M Medium Lift Helicopter, CH-47F Heavy Lift Helicopter, AH-6M and MH-6M Mission Enhanced Littlebird (MELB) Fixed wing aircraft include the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, AC-130 Spectre Gunship, MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), C-17 Globemaster Heavy Transport Aircraft and A-10 "Warthog" Close-Air Support attack aircraft, and multi-role fighter aircraft.

Alpha Company Rangers from 1st Platoon receive a briefing prior to an operation.

Branch & Military Occupational Specialties

Branch	Insignia	MOS	Description
Aviation		15A Aviation Officer 153A Rotary Wing Aviator 155A Fixed Wing Aviator	Aviation operates a wide range of aircraft Rotary aircraft include the UH-60M Medium Lift Helicopter, CH-47F Heavy Lift Helicopter, AH-6M and MH-6M Mission Enhanced Littlebird (MELB) Fixed wing aircraft include the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, AC-130 Spectre Gunship, MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), C-17 Globemaster Heavy Transport Aircraft and A-10 "Warthog" Close-Air Support attack aircraft, and multi-role fighter aircraft. All of these craft are considerably different in mission parameter and specifications yet all act to support the ground element in-tandem with JFOs and with each other between flights.

Alpha Company Military Occupational Specialties

153A Rotary Wing Aviator

Alpha Company Rangers from 1st and 2nd Platoons embark C-130s for an airborne drop during Operation Northern Shield, April 2020. Live Photo

The Military Occupational Specialty 11B Infantryman is responsible for closing with and destroying the enemy. They are experts in squad-level battle drills and employment of assigned weapon systems. In Alpha Company, Infantrymen specialize in both Air Assault and Airborne operations, while also performing traditional light infantry, mechanized and motorized tasks. Each Infantry Platoon within Alpha Company is comprised of up to three Light Infantry Squads and one Weapons Squad.

A Light Infantry squad employs weapons including the M4A1 Carbine, the M249 Light Machinegun, the M320 Grenade Launcher, and the AT-4 recoilless launcher. These squads act as the primary assault and maneuver elements within the platoon.

Each platoon also employs a Weapons Squad, which provides a base of fire for the rest of the platoon. These squads are trained to employ weapons systems such as the M240B Medium Machine Gun, the M3 Medium Anti-Armor Weapon System (MAAWS), M252 81mm Medium Weight Mortar and the FIM-92 Stinger Man Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS) among others.

155A Fixed Wing Aviator

The 11Z Senior Infantry Sergeant is chiefly responsible for the sensible military administration of a military unit. They are experienced and competent administrators who handle the logistical and intelligence requirements of combat operations. Coordinating the unit, other units, and ensuring that orders flow and decisions are made with efficiency to ensure the continued maintenance of the Company. Personnel such as the Company 1SG and Battalion SGM are chiefly responsible for these tasks.

15A Aviation Officer

Infantry Officers are responsible for commanding and leading platoons within the Company. This includes training, operational command, and organizational command. Infantry Officers are responsible for working with the Senior NCOs for logistical and operational support. Officers are held to high standards, and are examples to follow in leadership and competency.

Aviation

Warrant Officers

Aviation School

WO1 CW2 CW3 CW4 CW5 The Warrant Officer ranks within the unit are the symbol of Aviation. The symbol of one's winged pilot status. Those that hold the Warrant Officer rank are now the go-to when someone needs an aviator. It is their job to ensure they have the skills to accomplish this task. This is one's primary duty. Senior Warrant Officers' further responsibilities are to aid in the training of new aviators. To aid in their endeavors of becoming a Warrant Officer. Just as others gave you their aid in your training.

The U.S. Army Aviator Badge shall be awarded to soldiers who successfully complete flight training with the MOS 153A Rotary Wing Aviator and are inducted into the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). As an Aviation Trainee, you will be trained to a superior standard higher than regular forces, establishing and building upon your experience and expertise. You will be cross-trained in the craft of flight planning, advanced formation, all facets of communication, and all the roles of each airframe under your command!

Traditions and History

The unit was founded in August of 2018 and officially stood up September 1st 2018. Hotel Company, 2nd Ranger Battalion was added later in September, once it was ready to receive applicants. The first company commander was Zach Lemon, who retired from service in December of 2020.

Leadership

The following is a list of Company Commanders beginning with the most recent.

Rank	Name	Dates of Service
Captain	John Novix	30 Dec 2020–Present
Major	Zach Lemon	1 Sep 2018–30 Dec 2020

Order of Battle

Hotel Company consists of 1 Aviation Platoon and a Headquarters.

Element	Callsign	Echelon	Role	Abbreviation	Approved Strength
Hotel Company Headquarters	Night Stalkers	Headquarters	Headquarters and Battlespace Control	H/HQ	3 Soldiers, 23 Total
1st Platoon	Night Stalkers 1	Platoon	Multi-Role Rotary and Fixed-Wing Aviation Platoon	1/H	20 Soldiers
1st Platoon, 1st Flight	Night Stalkers 1-1	Flight	Rotary-Wing Action Flight	1/1/H	6 Soldiers
1st Platoon, 2nd Flight	Night Stalkers 1-2	Flight	Rotary-Wing Action Flight	2/1/H	6 Soldiers
1st Platoon, 3rd Flight	Night Stalkers 1-3	Flight	Rotary-Wing Action Flight	3/1/H	5 Soldiers
1st Platoon, 4th Flight	Night Stalkers 1-4	Flight	Fixed-Wing Action Flight	4/1/H	2 Soldiers