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PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii – Eight Army AH-64E Apache Guardians with 1st Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, arrived in Hawaii, June 17, for a two month deployment, marking the first time an Apache aircraft has been to the state of Hawaii.
The aircraft and approximately 40 Apache pilots and maintainers, who deployed out of Fort Carson, Colo., are scheduled to conduct joint and unit training in multifunctional operations to include the U.S. Navy’s 2014 Rim of the Pacific exercise, the world’s largest international maritime exercise.
To celebrate the arrival of the Apache Guardian, the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor hosted an Apache welcoming celebration June 20, on Ford Island, Hawaii. Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, commander of U.S. Army Pacific, was the guest speaker at the event where Kahu Kordell Kekoa performed a traditional Hawaiian blessing on the aircraft.
“We’re here to commemorate the arrival of the first AH-64E, which is the most modern version of the Apache Helicopter coming to Hawaii,” said Brooks. “It’s been a tradition to do that for aircraft that come to Hawaii for the first time and it was particularly significant today because this is where the Army had its first footprint.”
During the public event, pilots and leaders were present to answer questions from the community and explain the role of the Apache in upcoming training exercises.
“The overall goal is to show 25th CAB’s capabilities with all of the aircraft that are part of 25th CAB,” said Capt. Nathan Peper, commander of Company A, 1-25 ARB. “We are going to integrate our aircraft into everything we are trying to do in the Pacific AOR.”
Following RIMPAC, the AH-64E Apache unit will also participate in Tiger Balm 2014, an exercise in Hawaii that will strengthen the partnership between U.S. and Singapore Armies promoting stability and security in the Pacific region and enhancing interoperability.
“For us to now have the most advanced Army attack helicopter brought here and to be honored here brings it full closure,” said Brooks. “So that’s the significance of today, Army Aviation, a long history and still going, with the most modern capability being brought forward.”
After the deployment in Hawaii, some of the aircraft will move further into the Pacific, to take part in the inaugural pacific pathway that will be conducted later in the year.
| Date Taken: | 06.20.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.21.2014 05:05 |
| Story ID: | 133902 |
| Location: | FORD ISLAND, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 603 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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