25th CAB and 1-82 ARB begin redeployment

Photo By Staff Sgt. Bryanna Poulin | The 3rd Battalion 25th Aviation Regiment Command Sgt. Maj. Jesus Ruiz helps his Soldier load bags, Sept. 8, at Contingency Operating Base Speicher. The Soldiers were the first wave of Soldiers with 25th Combat Aviation Brigade 'Torch' to redeploy to Hawaii after 14 months in Iraq.  

TIKRIT, IRAQ

09.17.2007

Story by Staff Sgt. Bryanna Poulin 

25th Combat Aviation Brigade

By Spc. Bryanna Poulin
25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs

TIKRIT, Iraq – The first group of 25th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) Soldiers are making their way back to Hawaii after being deployed for more than a year.

About 130 Soldiers from the 25th CAB and the 1-82 Attack Reconnaissance Battalion (ARB) torch party departed Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Sept. 9, for arrival to Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii, and Fort Bragg, N.C., after a 14-month deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom. The brigade was initially slated for a 12-month tour in Iraq, which was later extended.

The torch party, which includes Soldiers with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment; 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment; 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment; 209th Aviation Support Battalion; and the 25th Unmanned Aerial Surveillance (UAS) will prepare for the arrival of the rest of the brigade who will be redeploying in the upcoming weeks.

For the duration of the deployment, the 25th CAB and 1-82nd ARB made a significant impact to the overall mission by disrupting unknown enemy activity in Multi-national Division North (MND-N) by putting lethal pressure on their sanctuaries with powerful air support for coalition ground forces.

The brigade has also been a signifigant contributor for air reconnaissance and
attack scout weapons teams for insurgent activity throughout MND-N.

• Date Taken: 09.17.2007
• Date Posted: 09.17.2007 10:06
• Story ID: 12380
• Location: TIKRIT, IQ