TF Falcon pilot takes last flight on 9/11 in Afghanistan

Courtesy Photo | U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Bobby Sebren, a tactical operations officer and pilot with Task Force Falcon, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, receives a certificate of appreciation from U.S. Army Lt. Col. Dennis McKernan and U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Dvorsky, Task Force Phoenix commander and command sergeant major, respectively, Sept. 11. Sebren conducted his last military flight, after 25 years as an aviator, with TF Phoenix soldiers, and in addition to the certificate, received a post-flight spray down and near-beer.  

PARWAN PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

09.11.2011

Story by Staff Sgt. Todd Pouliot 

10th Combat Aviation Brigade

By: U.S. Army Sgt. Amanda Jo Brown
Task Force Phoenix

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Bobby Sebren, a tactical operations officer and pilot with Task Force Falcon, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, made his last UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter flight for the Army in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on the 10-year mark of Sept. 11.

Sebren stepped out of his Black Hawk with a smile and was greeted by Task Force Phoenix pilots who took turns spraying him and his crew with water from a fire truck. Laughs turned into lots of photos and congratulating handshakes.

After the spray down, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Dennis McKernan, TF Phoenix commander, presented Sebren with a near-beer and a certificate of appreciation.

“I enjoyed every hour flown [with TF Phoenix],” said Sebren, “Everyone was always very nice to the old guy. They treated me like one of their own, and I always tried to return the favor.”
Sebren, a native of Brandon, Miss., said his last flight was particularly significant for him.

“I'll be going back to Fort Rucker to run the aircraft shootdown assessment team for two more years,” said Sebren, “Since that job is so busy there is no flying. Being able to finish my flying career in Afghanistan with 10th CAB on 9/11 was very special.”

He recalled his memories from the fateful night for Americans.

“I flew down to Andrews Air Force Base that night to pick up a Federal Emergency Management Agency team to take to Shanksville, Pa., and was parked right in front of Air Force One,” said Sebren. “The Baltimore/Washington airspace is usually so busy you have to butt in to get a call to approach control, but on this night I only heard one other aircraft. It was very surreal.”

Sebren has served in the Army for 32 years – 25 of those years as an aviator. He is qualified on the TH-55 Osage; UH-1 Iroquois; OH-6 Cayuse; UH-60 Black Hawk; Bell 206 BIII, L1, L3, L4; BO-105 and BK-117 helicopter. Over the course of his career, he has acquired approximately 6,800 flight hours and 2,500 civilian flight hours.

Making his last flight on a Black Hawk was fitting for Sebren as it holds a special place in his heart.

“I enjoy the mission [of a Black Hawk] - everything from MEDEVAC to Air Assaults to flying VIPs,” said Sebren, “It is never boring and rarely the same. Of the 10 helicopters I've flown the Black Hawk is by far my favorite.”

Operation Enduring Freedom XI is Sebren’s first deployment with a combat aviation brigade; however, he used to run the Aircraft Shootdown Assessment Team which brought him to Iraq and Afghanistan.

He looks forward to his retirement to play golf, hunt, enjoy life with his family and occasionally fly; however, parting will leave a hole after so many years of service.

“[I will miss] the camaraderie of the Army the most,” said Sebren, “Even though we mess with each other, everyone is like family.”

• Date Taken: 09.11.2011
• Date Posted: 09.22.2011 02:29
• Story ID: 77414
• Location: PARWAN PROVINCE, AF