ARCENT and aviation unit work together to sustain war effort

Courtesy Photo | Soldiers from the 209th Aviation Support Battalion download one of several UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. The Hawaii-based unit was just recently activated and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

08.30.2006

Courtesy Story

U.S. Army Central   

by Sgt. Carlos M. Burger II
Desert Voice Staff Writer

SOUTHWEST ASIA (30 August 2006) --- Moving a unit into the area of responsibility is a long and sometimes stressful process. There are the tasks of maintaining accountability of unit troops as well as the equipment needed for the deployment. It can be even more difficult when your unit is brand new.

This is the challenge that faced the 25th Infantry Division's 209th Aviation Support Battalion, called the "Lobos." The new unit, which stood up in February, deployed for the first time in July to replace the 96th Aviation Support Battalion of the 101st Airborne Division, stationed in Iraq, said Maj. Michael Lawson, support operations officer in charge.

The 209th ASB worked closely with the USARCENT C-4 transportation branch in moving its cargo, the most aircraft that a single unit has ever brought in theater, into the AOR, Lawson said. The 209th has an extensive fleet of helicopters, including Chinooks, Kiowa Warriors, Black Hawks and Apache Longbows.

The aircraft were loaded on cargo ships in Hawaii and then transported to Kuwait. Once they arrived, the ASB was responsible for downloading the ship and also getting them as well as their equipment pushed forward to their destination, Lawson said.

"It's a multi-level operation, getting the ship downloaded; getting the aircraft built and moved forward, getting everything accounted for, and finally moving everything forward through (ARCENT)," said Master Sgt. James E. Krupp, support operations noncommissioned officer in charge.

Once the daunting task of downloading the ship was completed, the ASB turned to ARCENT to assist in coordination of the huge push forward.

The ASB worked with transportation elements of ARCENT to move everything forward. The two organizations worked together to keep them on schedule so that the troops in the 96th ASB wouldn't have to stay in Iraq any longer than they already have, Lawson said.

"They (ARCENT) have been really helpful in making sure they understand our priorities," he added.

In addition to keeping in sync with the ASB priorities, ARCENT provided much needed support in the form of parts and supplies.

"The support down at the port was really good. The AVCRAD (Aviation Classification Repair Activity Depot) unit there really helped us out. They made sure we had plenty of water, ice and the repair parts we needed," Lawson said.

The units who brought the ASB parts, especially the ones on Arfijan, worked really hard to get us aircraft parts, when we requested them, he added.

In the end, the mission was a complete success; the aircraft was downloaded and transported, despite working in temperatures in excess of 140 degrees inside the cargo bay of the ship.

"During the whole movement operation, there were no heat injuries, no significant injuries or aircraft accidents of any kind. That's a testament to good leaders on the ground," Krupp said.

"Ninety percent of our aircraft were out and up in the first four days and 50 percent of our equipment has already moved forward, and that's a huge deal for us," Lawson added.

With several battalions to support in the next 12 months, the 209th ASB's motto, "Support or Die" will be quite appropriate. As with any deployment, there will be many hardships and trials ahead for the Hawaii-based unit.

Fortunately, thanks to the combined effort of ARCENT C-4, they have accomplished their first mission in getting all their equipment and aircraft transported into the AOR.

• Date Taken: 08.30.2006
• Date Posted: 09.07.2006 13:06
• Story ID: 7670
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)