Americans are accustomed to the expression “karma is a bitch” loosely translated as “karma will take its revenge on you”. The global power of the US was built not with bricks of cultural or moral materials but of economic ones. In short, it was based on the dollar and bought everyone. And today it is collapsing from the dollar! The US economy could not withstand the abuse of banks and rulers, with the result that the country is now desperately looking for ways to make savings, find revenue and stimulate domestic production, in a last-ditch effort to escape the immense cliff of the 37 trillion dollar deficit, a deficit that is growing at a speed of about one hundred thousand dollars per second.
The “Make America Great Again” policy of the showman US President Donald Trump aims precisely at this and is neither bold nor “magical”, nor provocative. It is necessary [and overdue] for the salvation of the state and by extension their economy. All of Elon Mask’s layoff programs, Trump’s famous “tariffs”, the interruption of the infamous USAID and the deportation of illegal immigrants, have one goal, the restart of the huge American economy in order to get out of the quicksand that is swallowing it steadily and quickly!
Of course, the US communication policy does not present nor will it ever admit that all of these are necessary and long overdue actions. It talks and will talk about housekeeping, about supporting Americans and not foreigners and about “initiatives to optimize the structure of the army” as in the case of the following news item.
As of May 2025 [just four months after the Trump administration took office], the US Army had decided, but without setting a timetable, that it would deactivate all helicopter units of the US Army Reserve Command (USARC) !!!
They justified this as part of the [strange word..] ATI – Army Transformation Initiative. The ATI “initiative” hopes to reduce operating costs and reallocate resources, “so that the US Army can meet modern battlefield challenges” during the preparation of the 2026 defense budget. In this context, the deactivation of the helicopter units was announced for September 15, 2025.
According to the announcement, the deactivation concerns two Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigades (ECAB), the 11th and the 244th, as well as all helicopter units subordinate to them! These brigades are key elements of USARC air support, providing transport, casualty evacuation and operational support capabilities. The deactivation will “free up” a total of 180 helicopters, which are distributed as follows:
- 114 UH-60L Black Hawk: Transport helicopters, which are upgrades of the original UH-60A model, with T700-GE-701C engines, improved powertrain and advanced flight control systems. Their production and upgrade took place between 1989 and 2007.
- 30 HH-60M Black Hawk: Special version of the UH-60M, adapted for transporting the wounded and sick, equipped with medical equipment and life support systems.
- 36 CH-47F Chinook: Heavy transport helicopters, capable of transporting significant cargo and personnel over long distances.
This decision, as stated by the US Army, aims to save resources, with the funds released being directed to modernization programs, such as the development of new technologies, strengthening cybersecurity and improving the capabilities of unmanned systems (UAVs).
The ATI initiative is supposed to be part of a broader restructuring plan for the US Army, aimed at adapting it to a rapidly changing geopolitical and technological environment.
According to reports from the U.S. Army News Service (2025), the deactivation of the USARC helicopter units will reduce operational maintenance, training and support costs, which are estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars annually. These resources will be invested in programs such as Future Vertical Lift (FVL), which aims to develop new, more advanced helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles.
The decision has naturally provoked reactions, especially from USARC executives, who argue that the deactivation of the brigades will reduce the operational flexibility of the reserve. However, the Pentagon promises that active Army units and the National Guard can fill the gap, while the helicopters that are released will either be redeployed or retired, depending on their condition…
The helicopters affected by the decision are among the most reliable and widely used in the world:
- UH-60L Black Hawk: This version is based on the original UH-60A, with improvements that include T700-GE-701C engines, which provide greater power and reliability. The powertrain has been upgraded to withstand higher loads, while the flight control systems include advanced electronics for better navigation and stability (Sikorsky, 2023).
- -HH-60M Black Hawk: Specifically designed for medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions, it features intensive care equipment, patient monitoring systems, and the ability to operate in adverse conditions.
- CH-47F Chinook: This helicopter is known for its ability to carry heavy loads, such as vehicles, ammunition, and personnel. The F version includes digital navigation systems and improved armor (Boeing, 2024).
The deactivation of the USARC helicopter units is expected to affect approximately 2,500 military personnel, including pilots, technicians, and support personnel. The Department of Defense has committed to retraining or reassigning these personnel to other units or programs. In addition, the decision reinforces the US Army’s shift towards more flexible and technologically advanced solutions, such as unmanned aerial vehicles and hybrid air support systems.
However, the reallocation of the 180 helicopters remains under discussion. According to Defense News (2025), some of the UH-60L and CH-47F may be transferred to active units or sold to allied countries, while the HH-60M will likely be retained for MEDEVAC missions due to their critical nature. The retirement of older models, particularly the UH-60L, will accelerate the transition to newer platforms, such as the UH-60M and future FVL helicopters.
Through the ATI initiative, the Army says it seeks to balance operational efficiency with fiscal responsibility by investing in cutting-edge technologies. However, the pressing need to save resources is evident, which now seems to be setting the pace for efficiency in the US Army.
