3rd CAB commander leads 3rd ID Leadership Professional Development

Photo By Sgt. William Begley | The commander of the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, Col. John D. Kline, speaks to the key leaders of the 3rd Infantry Division March 5 at Fort Stewart. Kline spoke on the topic of Air to Ground Operations to a room filled with brigade combat team commanders, command sergeants major, and Brig. Gen. James R. Blackburn Jr., commander, Task Force Marne, 3rd ID. (Photo by Sgt. William Begley, 3rd CAB Public Affairs)  

HINESVILLE, GA, UNITED STATES

03.05.2015

Story by Sgt. William Begley 

3rd Combat Aviation Brigade

FORT STEWART, Ga. – The commander of the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, Col. John D. Kline, spoke to the key leaders of the 3rd Infantry Division as part of a Leadership Professional Development conference at Fort Stewart March 5.

Kline spoke on the topic of Air to Ground Operations to a room filled with brigade combat team commanders, command sergeants major, and Brig. Gen. James R. Blackburn Jr., commander, Task Force Marne, 3rd ID.

“I want to show you where it is that we’ve been for the last 15 years, and also show you where we’re going in the future,” Kline said. “As Brig. Gen. Blackburn talked about we are getting lighter, and what we offer a division that is losing Bradleys and tanks is something we hope can take the place of that.”

Chief Warrant Officer 5 George Kelly, command chief warrant officer, 3rd CAB spoke about what the leaders should take from the LPD, and how the 3rd CAB can help.

“The 3rd ID is changing, and there will be more dismounted infantry,” Kelly said. “There is nothing more comforting to the dismounted infantryman than the sound of an attack helicopter overhead, and the knowledge that a MEDEVAC helicopter is close at hand in the event he is wounded on the battlefield.”

Kelly also pointed out the importance of the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter delivering additional water, food and ammunition at first light.

One of the officers present for the LPD was Maj. David Blanchard, executive officer, 603rd Aviation Support Battalion, 3rd CAB. He spoke on how well he thought the LPD went.

“It went great. There were a lot of good discussions and crosstalk and a good coordination between all the branches and units in the division,” Blanchard said. “I think both the BCT’s and the CAB learned a lot from this and can only get better the more we work together.”

• Date Taken: 03.05.2015
• Date Posted: 03.18.2015 11:26
• Story ID: 157359
• Location: HINESVILLE, GA, US