Conflicting accounts have emerged over the status of a U.S. Army aviation unit in South Korea. A congressional report described the unit as “deactivated.” However, both Korea's Ministry of National Defense and U.S. military officials said no decision has been made. The issue centers on the 5th Air Cavalry Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment (5-17 ACS), a U.S. Army unit stationed at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, which has carried out reconnaissance missions for the combined ROK-U.S. division. Since its activation in 2022, the squadron has operated AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and remotely piloted reconnaissance assets. A report updated on Dec. 31, 2025, by the U.S. Congressional Research Service (CRS) stated that the U.S. Army deactivated the 5-17 ACS on Dec. 15, 2025, as part of the Army Transformation Initiative, a broader effort to restructure force posture and modernize capabilities. While the CRS language was unambiguous, subsequent explanations from Seoul and Washington have created uncertainty rather than clarity. Korea's Ministry of National Defense said on