FAIRBANKS - Fort Wainwright’s Task Force 49 is now known as the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade.

The name change went into effect Oct. 16 and does not affect the brigade’s mission, said Capt. Dave Mattox, for U.S. Army Alaska. Rather, it symbolizes the soldiers’ new take on the history of the brigade, the name of which has not been in use since the Vietnam War.

A formal re-flagging ceremony is scheduled for December.

The 1,400 soldiers and more than 60 helicopters that make up the brigade were temporarily stationed at Fort Wainwright beginning in 2005. The Army is reviewing whether to permanently station the brigade at its current size in Alaska or bring more troops to the brigade.

The Army has stated a preference for permanently basing the brigade at Fort Wainwright, which could bring $460 million in new construction to post beginning next summer. Permanently stationing the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Wainwright also would add air support to the Stryker infantry brigade, allowing the units to train as theyfight.

A formal announcement of the Army’s plans is expected in March.

Mattox said the new name is not an indication of the Army’s plans.

The different companies that make up the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade have seen regular deployments to Iraq since coming to Fort Wainwright. A and C Companies, 1st Battlaion, 52nd Aviation Regiment are still deployed to Iraq, though the troops are expected to return to post by the end of the year.

The recently returned 6th Squardron, 17th Cavalry has completed the reintegration process and resetting of its equipment, and is training for future missions.

On Friday, U.S. Army Alaska issued a press release explaining that those in Fairbanks and surrounding areas might notice an increase in air traffic as more soldiers return to Alaska.

“I know it was quiet here for the last year with without the helicopters and it is going to get busier now that the helicopters are back,” Col. Robert Wertham, commander of the brigade said in the release.