Regionally Allocated Aviation a key part of Saber Junction 16

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Elizabeth Pena | Pfc. Tyler Glover, an avionics mechanic with 3-227th Helicopter Assault Battalion, Task Force Spearhead, out of Fort Hood, Texas, currently assigned to the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade out of Katterbach, Germany, ensures the switches are working properly as a part of exercise Saber Junction 16, a multinational exercise that promotes interoperability between U.S. Allied and partner nations. Saber Junction is designed to evaluate and assess the readiness of the U.S. Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade to execute Unified Land Operations in a joint, combined environment. (Photo by U.S. Army National Guard Sgt. Elizabeth Pena)  

HOHENFELS, BY, GERMANY

04.12.2016

Story by Sgt. Elizabeth Pena 

100th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Hohenfels, Germany- This month, the 3-227th Helicopter Assault Battalion,Task Force Spearhead, out of Fort Hood, Texas, currently assigned to the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade out of Katterbach, Germany, conducts aviation combat operations here in support of Saber Junction 16, a multinational exercise that promotes interoperability between U.S. Allied and partner nations.

"We are here as part of the Rotational Aviation Force," said Maj. Steve Comrad, Executive Officer of the 3-227th. "We are on a mission here at Saber Junction 16 in support of the 173rd Airborne Brigade and we are here to practice and synchronize some of our skills that we haven't had an opportunity to exercise in the past."

Saber Junction 16 is designed to evaluate and assess the readiness of the U.S. Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade to execute Unified Land Operations in a joint, combined environment.

"For the initial portion, 3-227th is the Aviation Task Force "Spearhead," who are working for 12th Combat Aviation Brigade," said Maj. Beau Rollie, an observer coach trainer for Falcon Team at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, in Hohenfels, Germany. "Once the 173rd Airborne Brigade gets established on the ground, they will then work directly under the 173rd Airborne."

In 2015, the Army restructured the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade as a part of the Army's sweeping Aviation Restructuring Initiative, a five-year plan put in place as part of a series of reductions Army wide.

"The 12th CAB was reduced from a full combat aviation brigade, into what amounts to a provisional general support aviation battalion," said Rollie. "It took the entire aviation brigade strength of about 140 aircraft and reduced it to 40 or 50 aircraft total."

To help combat the loss, a headquarters element was placed in Katterbach, Germany, to provide command and control to all U.S. Army Europe Aviation. Units that rotate in as part of the U.S. Army's Regionally Allocated Forces (RAF) for Europe continuously augment 12th CAB.

"The importance is that the Army brings over the 3-227th," said Rollie, "and it really turns what ended up being a third of a brigade into a half of an aviation brigade so it's important because the U.S. Army's Europe now has a relatively robust aviation brigade."

Large-scale multinational exercises like Saber Junction are designed to allow U.S. Allies and partners to connect- personally, professionally, technically, and tactically- to build stronger, more capable forces. For Rollie, the RAF enables the 12th CAB to complete its mission to standard here in Hohenfels.

"It's good to have the RAF, it takes the 12th CAB from a very limited unit as it currently is built, and it gives them back some capabilities," said Rollie "[The 3-227th] brings approximately 30 aircraft medevac, assault helicopters, Blackhawks, and Apaches to pretty much double USAREUR's helicopter mobility aviation capabilities."

Saber Junction 16 hosts nearly 5,000 participants from 16 NATO and European partner nations between March 31- April 24.

"We are interested in the interoperability and the concept of building shared understanding between allied forces and the U.S. organizations," said Comrad. "We are excited about being here and we look forward to the training opportunity to build our organizations to make us a better force."

• Date Taken: 04.12.2016
• Date Posted: 04.14.2016 13:28
• Story ID: 195402
• Location: HOHENFELS, BY, DE