From one CAV to another

Photo By Sgt. Jesse Smith | The 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment and the 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment held a transfer of authority ceremony Feb. 9 at the 6-17th CAV hangar on U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys. The ceremony was a way to say goodbye to one unit and hello to another.  

CAMP HUMPHREYS, 41, SOUTH KOREA

02.09.2015

Story by Sgt. Jesse Smith 

2nd Combat Aviation Brigade

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea – The 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division cased its colors while the 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment uncased theirs Feb. 9 inside the 6-17th Cavalry Regiment’s hangar on Camp Humphreys.

Lt. Col. Matt Ketchum, the 6-17th Cavalry Regiment commander, reflected on the units time here in Korea and said he believes the unit completed what it came here to do.

“Nine months ago, the squadron was tasked with joining the 2nd Infantry Division team, increasing the readiness, and to deter aggression while maintaining peace on the peninsula,” Ketchum said. “Mission accomplished.”

Ketchum said his Soldiers received amazing training while deployed here and he wanted to welcome the 2-6th Cavalry Regiment to Korea.

“It is an honor to have served on the Korean Peninsula alongside our host nation partners,” Ketchum said. “While we leave here today, you are in good hands with the Lightning Horse Squadron. The Korean Peninsula provides a wealth of training opportunities as well as time for your Soldiers to explore the Korean culture.”

Lt. Col. Aaron Martin, the 2-6th Cavalry Regiment commander, welcomed the new mission his Soldiers will be taking on and thanked the 6-17th Cavalry Regiment for the smooth transition and the hard work it put in over its’ deployment.

“Thank you for all of your efforts to welcome and prepare us for this mission,” Martin said. “The saber squadron has performed superbly for the past nine months, and we hope to live up to the high standard the 4-6th Cavalry Regiment and the 6-17th Cavalry Regiment have set for rotational Kiowa warrior squadrons.”

Martin said he is ready to move forward from the transition phase and start completing the missions his unit was sent here to do.

“To the troopers of the 2-6th Cavalry Regiment, well done,” Martin said. “Now we can focus on what we do, and that is to fly for the troops. The cavalry troopers standing before you are ready to mount their steeds, draw their sabers and stand shoulder to shoulder with our ROK allies to deter and if necessary, defeat any threats to the Republic of Korea.”

The 6-17th Cavalry Regiment received praise from many key leaders in the 2nd CAB to include Col. Hank Taylor, the 2nd CAB commander.

“I am confident saying the 6-17th Cavalry Regiment demonstrated to all the effectiveness of regionally aligned rotational units,” Taylor said.

The 2nd CAB, 2nd Infantry Division says goodbye to one great organization, but welcome another.

“The Talon Warriors look forward to continue to improve our alliance and deter enemy aggression as part of the 2nd Infantry Division,” Taylor said. “Second to none!”

• Date Taken: 02.09.2015
• Date Posted: 02.09.2015 01:40
• Story ID: 153979
• Location: CAMP HUMPHREYS, 41, KR