Western New York aviation troops conduct reintegration after deployment Friday afternoon in Rochester

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Harley Jelis | Soldiers of the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion conducting anti-tank weapons training in the Kuwaiti desert earlier this year. (New York Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Harley Jelis/Released)  

ROCHESTER, NY, UNITED STATES

10.23.2014

Courtesy Story

New York National Guard

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - More than 120 New York Army National Guard Soldiers and family members of the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion will take part in the New York Army National Guard's Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program Friday, Oct. 24 in Rochester. The Soldiers returned from deployment to Kuwait in August 2014.

WHO: More than 120 Soldiers of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company and Company A of the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion, plus their family members. Most of the Soldiers are from western New York.

WHAT: A 30-day Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Event at which the combat veterans and their families will learn about the benefits they can take advantage of, as well as some of the stresses service members and their families experience following a combat deployment.

WHEN: Media is invited to visit the opening events between 10 a.m. and noon Friday, Oct. 24, 2014.

WHERE: Rochester Riverside Radisson Hotel, 120 E Main Street, Rochester, NY 14604.

Coverage opportunities:

Coverage opportunities include interviews with Soldiers and family members and New York National Guard leaders about the Yellow Ribbon program and the reintegration process. Media should contact John Willsey at [phone] for access to the event.

BACKGROUND

642nd Aviation Support Battalion

The 642nd Aviation Support Battalion provides aviation maintenance and logistical support to Army helicopter units. The battalion has elements at McArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma on Long Island, as well as at armories in Dunkirk and Olean in addition to the headquarters at the Army National Guard flight facility in Rochester.

Formerly known as the 642nd Division Aviation Support Battalion, Soldiers of the 642nd deployed in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York City and served in Iraq as part of the 42nd Infantry Division Aviation Brigade deployment in 2004/2005.
The battalion mobilized and departed New York in September 2013 and provided aviation support for U.S. military forces deployed in Kuwait since December 2013 as part of the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade task force.

The force included some 44 aircraft and about 1,200 Active Army and Army National Guard aviation troops during their Kuwait deployment.

While deployed to Kuwait with the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, Soldiers of the 642nd ASB completed some 186,000 man hours of aviation maintenance work to support 2,700 work orders. These efforts kept 44 Army aircraft flying to support missions across Kuwait, the Gulf of Arabia, Iraq, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

The 642nd ASB Soldiers achieved a 75 percent readiness rate for all aircraft, completing 15 phase maintenance inspections for 15 UH-60 or AH-64 aircraft. The inspection is a major overhaul and review involving the disassembly, inspection of major components, repair and replacement of aircraft engine, avionics, rotor, transmission, airframe and other key components.

While deployed, the battalion oversaw 186 ground movement missions across the area, moving more than 3,000 troops and 5.8 million pounds of equipment with no accidents or injuries.

The unit received the Safety Excellence Award streamer recognizing outstanding safety record and risk management practices in the organization.

Fuel and armament personnel dispensed more than 300,000 gallons of aviation fuel for aircraft operations and establishes forward area arming and refuel points for gunnery and training exercises.

42nd Combat Aviation Brigade

The 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, a component of the Troy-based 42nd Infantry Division, is based at the New York State Armory in Latham. The brigade mobilized and departed New York in September 2013 and provided aviation support for U.S. military forces deployed in Kuwait since December 2013.

New York's aviation task force included members of the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion (ASB), with Soldiers based on Long Island, Rochester, Olean and Dunkirk, New York, along with 60 Soldiers from Company A, 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation, based in Latham, New York, flying 10 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.

The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program:

The New York Army National Guard Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program is an effort to help Soldiers and their families cope with the stress of returning to civilian life after deployment, while helping Army National Guard units transition from federal status back to state control.

The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program requires Soldiers to be present for paid assemblies after their return from a combat zone and invites families to attend as well. The sessions are held in a non-military environment to provide Soldiers and families a chance to share experiences and talk frankly with each other and counselors about their experiences.

Each Soldier is given the opportunity to talk to a Veterans Administration counselor and information on jobs, education, careers and health care is made available.

With their families by their side, they hear about benefits and programs such as veterans' benefits, education and job opportunities and available support networks.

After 90 days, the Soldiers return to regular drilling status and report to their Armory for medical checks and additional briefings.

The program is constantly changing as the National Guard learns more about how to help Soldiers come home from overseas.

• Date Taken: 10.23.2014
• Date Posted: 10.23.2014 12:36
• Story ID: 145870
• Location: ROCHESTER, NY, US