12 CAB helps 34 CAB train for war

UNITED STATES

03.03.2008

Story by Staff Sgt. Lynette Hoke 

Minnesota National Guard

By Sgt. Lynette Hoke
Minnesota National Guard

MINNESOTA, U.S. - Currently, the Soldiers of Task Force 34 are preparing for their deployment to Iraq at Ft. Rucker, Ala. National Guard members from Minnesota, New York and Iowa are working together for the first time as a collective unit in preparation for things they may face downrange. An interesting element of this training exercise is the partnership of the National Guard and the regular Army aviation unit from Germany.

For approximately a week, the Soldiers are training in a simulated environment, which mimics many of the events they may face in theater. To help enhance the training exercise, the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, a active duty CAB currently operating in Iraq, has sent several subject matter experts to help the Task Force while they train at Ft. Rucker.

Not only do the units have to work with each other for the first time, for some of the active components, it is their first time working with the National Guard units.

"They are doing a good job," said Capt. Brendan Murphy, Current plans officer for the 12th CAB. "They are learning the systems, and how they are to be integrated. In the Guard, you have people that generally have a lot more flight experience. They adapt easily to the mission because they have past flight experience."

For approximately two weeks, the National Guardsman from New York, Minnesota, Iowa, and an active duty battalion from Germany have acclimated themselves to a simulated working environment which will give them situational events they must react to as a collective organization.

"I am completely confident that Task Force 34 will be fully capable of taking over," said Capt. Katherine Murphy, Trial Counsel, 12th CAB. "I have enjoyed working with our Guard counterparts and I am sure all of the battalions will be able to pick up right were we left off."

Working with active duty Soldiers is not typical for the National Guardsman either, however, it has been a good opportunity to gain knowledge about their mission and what they might expect downrange.

"It's been great to have the 'subject matter experts' here who are actually our counterparts," said Capt. Michael Audette from the 3-142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion from New York. "The Soldiers from the 12 CAB have been a great learning tool, helping us learn the new systems that we will have in Iraq."

Soldiers form the 12 CAB know that training is a valuable before deploying, they also had subject matter experts from the task for in Iraq at their aviation training exercise in 2006.

"A lot of things have changed," said Capt. John McGuire, medical operations officer, 12 CAB. "You have a lot of people in the Guard units who have been there a couple of times. It is important to remember that it is always changing...even in the eight months that we have been there things have changed, remain flexible."

"Remember it isn't a sprint, you have to work together as a team," said Capt. Brendan Murphy. "There are other people going through the same things that you are and they can help you through it."

"When you are over there, there is no Guard or Active Duty Soldier, we are working together towards one mission."

Task Force 34 consists of Soldiers from 11 states and Germany. The Task Force will be deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom later this year.

• Date Taken: 03.03.2008
• Date Posted: 03.05.2008 17:24
• Story ID: 17045
• Location: US