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Cav soldiers' identification with a unit of unique capabilities produces a high sense of pride and will to win which was expertly refined by professional leadership at all levels of command. The mere fact that the airmobile soldier arrived rapidly and boldly on the battlefield, fresh and lightly equipped and well supplied contributes significantly to an attitude of willingness to close with and destroy the enemy.

The 1st Air Cavalry Division enjoyed exceptionally high morale during Operation PERSHING, a key factor in successful combat operations. The use of organic helicopters permitted the airmobile soldier to be abundantly supplied with everything he fired in his weapon, drank, ate, and read: even in relatively inaccessible areas on the battlefield. He lived comfortably in the field and traveled and fought equipped with only his weapon, ammunition, and water with other essentials being air-lifted to him when he needed them. The possibility of being wounded did not discourage him because any helicopter on the battlefield whether it be a CC ship, gunship, etc., could and frequently was used for medevac. In addition, the increased firepower, and visible teamwork between organic Air Cav and ground elements never let the soldier feel as if he were alone on the battlefield. A combination of all these factors encouraged a basically tough and well trained soldier to be habitually willing and eager to close with the enemy in order to enjoy the inevitably satisfaction of defeating him.

While the performance of the individual soldier is a key factor in success in combat, a closely related factor is the close teamwork and unity of effort of all elements of the 1st Cav Div. Aviation, maneuver and fire support elements functioned in close harmony and "went the extra mile" in individual effort to achieve success. The performance of all personnel in the division was without exception highly admirable causing the Air Cavalry concept to achieve results beyond expectations in application.