Paratroops conduct flight missions as the closure of FOB Shank looms

Photo By Capt. Adan Cazarez | Soldiers with the 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, begin to unhook fuel hoses as part of the clean-up of the forward arming and refueling point hangers at forward operation base Shank, Logar province, Afghanistan, Oct 6. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Adan Cazarez, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade PAO)  

LOGAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

10.06.2014

Story by Capt. Adan Cazarez 

82nd Combat Aviation Brigade

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – First Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade are on their way out. They are in the final stages of existing forward operating base Shank for its handover to the Afghan National Army.

Task Force Wings, 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, transferred authority to 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Regulators, at FOB Shank, Afghanistan, Sept. 11.

Capt. Sean Godfrey, troop commander, Delta Troop, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry isn’t new to deployments, but knew that his Troopers had a unique mission.

“It was important to choose the right people in order to complete this mission,” said Godfrey. “The morale of the Troopers has been high since we set foot here, which has helped enormously in order for us to complete this mission.”

For the next 30 days, TF Regulators would have the grueling task in packing equipment, conducting force protection requirements and assisting Army engineers with tearing down aircraft hangers. While at the same time, they continue to ensure their aircraft are full-mission capable to meet the mission requirements for ground commanders.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Bobby Guffey, production control officer, Delta Troop, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry, is currently on his fifth deployment.

“I have never conducted flying missions and retrograde operations as the same time,” said Guffey. “So many things are going on at the same time; this is a very different deployment from what I’m used to.”

In recent years FOB Shank has been home to International Security Assistance Force troops, and has accumulated excess equipment from rotating units over the years.

“It has been challenging with the multiple projects in meeting our timeline” said Godfrey. “We have laterally transferred equipment to other units, retrograded 23 containers of aviation equipment and excess stuff through air and ground valuing over $50 million.”

Given the massive undertaking TF Regulators had in contributing to the closure of FOB Shank, one of those troopers chosen to help contribute to this mission was Private First Class Zarah Aguinaldo, an aircraft structural repairer, currently serving in her first deployment.

“This deployment wasn’t what I expected,” said Aguinaldo. “I had to quickly learn a lot in a short time, but it was worth it.”

With the closure of FOB Shank and the diligent work of TF Regulators, they will pack up their stetsons in preparation for their redeployment back to Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

• Date Taken: 10.06.2014
• Date Posted: 10.12.2014 05:45
• Story ID: 144937
• Location: LOGAR PROVINCE, AF