Maintenance window scheduled to begin at February 14th 2200 est. until 0400 est. February 15th

(e.g. yourname@email.com)

Forgot Password?

    Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Logo

    US Army aviators fly joint mission with Iraqi partners

    U.S. Army aviators fly joint mission with Iraqi partners

    Photo By Sgt. Roland Hale | An Iraqi Army UH-1 Huey and a U.S. Army UH-60L Black Hawk take-off for a training...... read more read more

    BAGHDAD – U.S. Army aviators flew with aviators from the Iraqi Army, July 19, for a training mission in the Baghdad area intended to strengthen relations between their units and train the Iraqi aviators on VIP transportation.

    This is one of many aviation missions conducted with the Iraqi Army this year as they take a more active role in the war’s aviation operations. The U.S. aviators belong to the 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, an all-in-one aviation unit that deployed this March from Fort Riley, Kan. The battalion is also involved in training Iraqi air traffic controllers, with whom they share Camp Taji’s air traffic control tower.

    On this mission, the U.S. aviators flew a UH-60L Black Hawk while the Iraqi aviators flew a UH-1 Huey. The Iraqi Army, which recently took control of their military’s rotary-wing assets from the Iraqi Air Force, uses the Huey primarily as a scout and reconnaissance aircraft. This mission, however, showed the Iraqis how to use the aircraft to transport VIP’s around the battlefield.

    The 2-1 GSAB’s Company A is responsible for the transportation of commanders, dignitaries, and other VIP’s around Baghdad. Over the course of the war, units like this have been busy keeping personnel off Iraq’s roadside bomb infested highways. But with fewer Black Hawks flying in Iraq, the need for Iraqi aviation to pitch in is increasing.

    “One thing I’ve seen change since the war started is the Iraqi’s participation in everything,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Christian Frobenius, one of the Black Hawk pilots. “They want to do this, and we’re here to facilitate that.”

    In addition to flying the mission, the U.S. aviators included their Iraqi partners in the planning and coordination phases of their mission. They spent two weeks preparing for the flight to explain its purpose and other considerations, said Frobenius.

    Frobenius, who is serving his third tour in Iraq, said that he thinks the war is ready to end. He also said increased Iraqi participation in the war is an indicator of success. Frobenius has flown around 200 missions in Iraq but this is his first mission with the Iraqi Army.

    “It feels great and it’s an important step for them to take,” said Frobenius.

    It’s not the only step, however, and Frobenius’ unit will continue to train with their aviation counterparts over the length of their deployment. The battalion belongs to the Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Inf. Div., which is scheduled to be the Army’s last active-duty aviation unit supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

    When Operation New Dawn begins this September, the brigade will become the Army’s sole aviation unit in Iraq. With just under four thousand troops and several hundred aircraft, the brigade will be tasked with putting some of the final touches on the training of Iraqi aviators.

    In an Iraqi office already filled gifts from U.S. commanders—symbols of partnership and even friendship—Iraqi Army Col. Nagem invited the U.S. pilots to discuss their future cooperation.

    The lights were out in the office during their conversation—the eight hours a day of electricity available to the Iraqi camp seeming a testament to the work still to be done as the country emerges from a seven-year war.

    LEAVE A COMMENT

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 07.19.2010
    Date Posted: 07.20.2010 21:32
    Story ID: 53134
    Location: BAGHDAD, IQ

    Web Views: 170
    Downloads: 125

    PUBLIC DOMAIN