25th Combat Aviation Brigade completes PTA rotation, looks ahead to National Training Center

Photo By Staff Sgt. Bryanna Poulin | A vehicle with 209th Aviation Support Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade is transported from the CW3 Harold C Clinger to be driven to PTA. The vehicle was one of the 128 vehicles driven through Saddle Road, one of the deadliest roads in Hawaii.  

UNITED STATES

06.16.2008

Story by Staff Sgt. Tyrone Marshall 

25th Combat Aviation Brigade

By Staff Sgt. Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs

WHEELER ARMY AIRFIELD, Hawaii – The nature of the deployment cycle is that of never-ending preparation, designed to train Soldiers and units, at all echelons, into relevant and capable forces on today's modern, ever-changing battlefield.

The Soldiers of the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade recently completed a critical step in their deployment cycle, in the form of a rotation at the Pohakuloa Training Area, on the big island of Hawaii.

The 25th CAB's lethal and agile use of attack assets, assault helicopters, and medevac support, integrated with ground maneuver units, are crucial to any task force it supports in today's modular Army.

The 25th CAB combined all of these assets at PTA and each battalion was able to maximize the resources and terrain of the big island to achieve a multitude of internal and external training requirements while supporting 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), 25th ID.

This training milestone has prepared the brigade to deploy three aviation battalion task forces to the National Training Center. These aviation battalion task forces will support three maneuver brigades during separate NTC rotations as they conduct their final collective training event prior to deployment to Iraq.

The 25th CAB consists of four battalions: 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment "Hammerhead;" 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment "Diamondhead;" 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment "Lightning Horse;" and 209th Aviation Support Battalion "Lobos."

During the training at PTA, each battalion deployed multiple companies, and by the end of the rotation nearly all of the 2,500 CAB Soldiers were trained on all required mission-essential tasks, as well as many of the core warrior tasks vital to sustaining individual Soldiers' combat lethality.

A unique and rewarding opportunity also presented itself, as the brigade, working in concert with 3rd IBCT, 25th ID, to strengthen local community relations with multiple events. Events such as Armed Forces Day, a retirement home visit and a PTA overnight campout for local keiki allowed Soldiers and the local community to interact.

Under the watchful of Col. Mike Lundy, commander, 25th CAB, each battalion executed full spectrum aviation training, much of which could not be conducted at Schofield Barracks due to the unique range capabilities resident at PTA. In addition, the lessons learned at PTA were taken for application during the brigade's NTC rotation preparation to further increase the unit's efficiency and lethality.

One of the 25th CAB's critical tasks executed at PTA was helicopter gunnery, which requires individual qualification on aircraft weapons systems and progressions through crew qualifications to unit collective training. Weapon systems vary with each unit's aircraft ranging from machine gun and 2.75 rocket firing to Hellfire missiles. OH-58D Kiowa Warrior pilots also fired M4 Assault Rifles from their aircraft cockpits.

The training is guided by gunnery tables, which provide the framework for the level of proficiency required to qualify aircraft crew members. The tables are broken down into three categories – basic, intermediate and advanced. The three line battalions in the brigade were required to meet the standards of helicopter gunnery to demonstrate their ability to do their mission-essential tasks. For the fourth, an aviation support battalion, one of the key tasks was to provide logistical support at the Forward Arming Refuel Point (FARP), which provided refuel and rearm capability for each helicopter in a safe, organized and efficient manner. Additionally, all the battalions conducted convoy live-fire operations to prepare the brigade's support Soldiers for Combat Logistics Patrols and Downed Aircraft recovery operations.

The 3-25th Avn. Rgt., led by Lt. Col. Gregory Baker, provided continuous support to the PTA rotation with its C Co. "Dustoff" MEDEVAC helicopters prepared to conduct medical evacuation, while simultaneously conducting training scenarios with all the units rotating through PTA. Complimentary to the MEDEVAC coverage was F Co. "VIPERs," Air Traffic Services Company, who controlled the airspace on PTA, controlling over 5,100 individual aircraft movements. During the first two weeks of May, 3-25 AV conducted gunnery for tables for all of their CH-47D Chinook and UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter crews; qualifying over 90 door gunners from basic to advanced tables.

The "Hammerhead" Battalion also conducted ground reflexive fire and close quarters marksmanship live-fire ranges to ensure aircrews and support Soldiers are able to fight in the ground environment. This provided realistic, scenario-based training for 164 crewmembers giving them the necessary reflexive fire skills needed to defend themselves in today's contemporary environment.

The battalion closed the rotation by providing Medium Lift CH-47 and Utility UH-60 passenger and cargo operations, flying missions from Oahu to PTA every other day. All in all, the unit's UH-60s and CH-47s would carry over 700 passengers and haul 36.5 tons of cargo.

"That's what we do, provide the best aviation support possible to whomever needs it," said Baker, as he talked about the number of different mission profiles his general support aviation battalion conducted.

2-6th Cav. also rotated to PTA with the primarily focus of aerial gunnery. The squadron commander took a moment from observing training prior to redeployment to explain some of their preparation for the rotation.

"Our primary mission is reconnaissance and security operations as well as light attack operations," said Lt. Col. Kenneth Hawley, squadron commander, 2-6th Cav. "With gunnery being one of our primary training missions, the aviators must complete the Helicopter Gunnery Skills Test (HGST) prior to live-fire crew engagements. The HGST is actually our table five gunnery which included an instructional period on threat identification, ballistics, weapon system capabilities and then both written and hands-on testing.

"From there, the aircrews conducted live engagements with the aircraft mounted .50 caliber machine gun, 2.75 rockets and the Hellfire missile system." said Hawley.

Hawley also talked about two other tasks his squadron was able to accomplish.

"The other critical piece that we were able to do was a lot of convoy live-fire training, and Close-Combat Attack (CCA) training in support of both the aviation brigade Soldiers and 3rd IBCT Soldiers."

"We've geared the gunnery towards what was experienced in Iraq with the targets and target handovers," said the "Lightning Horse" squadron commander. "The aircrews gained great experience conducting CCAs in Iraq and executing this training at PTA gives the infantry Soldiers we typically support the opportunity to refine their call for fire skills."

The 209th ASB had a different focus due to the nature of the battalion's mission.

"Easily put, (our mission was) the support and sustainment of the brigade," said Lt. Col. Ramsey Bentley, commander, 209th ASB. "Each company within the 209th supports the brigade with its independent mission. Headquarters Support Company (HSC), 209th provided command and control, and logistical support and planning for all brigade operations to include transportation, medical, ammunition management and ground maintenance."

He continued, "The Support Operations Section (SPO) within HSC conducted all planning and coordination for brigade units for major unit moves and re-supply involving units outside of the brigade – for example bulk fuel, convoy, port and Logistical Support Vessel (LSV) operations, as well as the Brigade Aid Station. Alpha Company, 209th, the distribution company, stored, handled and distributed all classes of supply to the brigade to include rations, fuel, and ammunition and repair parts. Co. B, 209th is the Aviation Intermediate Maintenance (AVIM) Company, which provided aviation maintenance and downed aircraft recovery to the brigade. Co. C., 209th is the 209th's signal company, which provided direct support to the brigade headquarters for JNN/CPN satellite network and brigade radio re-transmission operations."

With such a complex and diverse mission, over 400 of the "Lobos" Battalion's 800 Soldiers were deployed to PTA to ensure the full spectrum of the brigade's training was supported.

"The most difficult task was the coordination and movement of all personnel, vehicles and equipment for the brigade to and from PTA and the planning and conduct of 10 different convoy live-fire iterations," said the "Lobos" commander.

During it's time at PTA, the battalion was able to conduct extensive convoy operations, port operations, LSV/ boat-load operations, convoy live-fire, convoy and Downed Aircraft Recovery Team (DART) live-fire, crew-served weapons ranges such as vehicle mounted MK-19 and the execution of FARP operations for refueling and re-arming all of the brigade's aircraft.

Perhaps the most challenging tasks belonged to 2-25th Avn. Rgt. The battalion, commanded by Lt. Col. David Francis, served as an aviation task force for 3rd IBCT. The battalion, serving as Task Force Diamond Head, normally consists of 30 UH-60L Blackhawks. Due to its designation as a task force, the unit was augmented with all the necessary aviation assets to support the light infantry brigade. The task force commander spoke during the exercise.

"We have our organic UH-60s, a troop of 10 OH-58D's from 2-6 Cav., and a forward support medical team of two Black Hawks from 3-25," said Francis, who has led the aviation battalion for the past five months. "The task force also operated the (Forward Arming and Re-fueling Point) and the (air traffic control). Normally, the other battalions in the CAB command and control those assets, so when all those different elements are attached to us that makes us a task force."

TF Diamond Head has a two-fold mission. "One is to get all organic 2-25 crews qualified on individual and advanced gunnery, but more importantly, we are the aviation task force supporting the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team."

Francis summed it up, explaining his task force conducted the full range of aviation operations from attack helicopter operations to assault helicopter, medevac and air traffic control. With the additional duty of being a task force, his unit of 445 Soldiers took on nearly 200 more.

Speaking from PTA, Francis also explained the battalion's need for PTA, highlighting the necessity of conducting certain training that couldn't be done on Oahu.

"Particularly tables seven, eight and 10 (of) door gunnery, day and night, with the ability to fire out of both doors in tactical scenarios. We cannot do that back on Schofield Barracks with the same level of realism."

The unit's time at PTA was put to good use since the battalion will be first to assume task force duties at NTC.

"This is the first time since the redeployment that we've been able to train as a task force headquarters, so this training event has been critical for our unit because we will be the aviation task force headquarters at NTC," said the task force commander. "TF Diamond Head is the headquarters for the first of three CAB NTC rotations, so this is the last training event that allows us to train as a task force before deployment to Fort Irwin."

He continued, "The other key thing that we've done in addition to gunnery is environmental training. NTC is one of the most demanding flying environments we will face. High altitude and dust training at PTA closely replicates the conditions we will face in the deserts of Fort Irwin and enables us to train on the specific techniques to operate successfully both during day and night operations."

With so many moving pieces and challenges facing the task force, the combined unit still recognized the reward in their struggles.

"The most rewarding thing about what we've done here is we've given 3rd IBCT Soldiers the opportunity to employ Army aviation attack assets, medevac and assault helicopters in training before they have to do it in combat," said Francis. "We're training our guys and I'm happy about that, but the 3rd IBCT is going into harm's way in five months, and I'm glad we've been able to give them every asset that we own to train to go to combat."

With the complex task of executing multiple missions at PTA, while simultaneously continuing to train and support the 25th ID on Oahu complete, the brigade has redeployed and begun reviewing sustains and improvements. For the 1,500 Soldiers that trained at PTA, the list of sustains should be substantial.

"This has been a tremendous training opportunity for the entire aviation brigade and I am very proud of the level of team work demonstrated by all of our Soldiers and units. Our ability to integrate lethal and agile aviation operations in support of the ground maneuver commander is our most important mission, and PTA provided the right training environment for us to perfect these skills," said Lundy.

• Date Taken: 06.16.2008
• Date Posted: 06.17.2008 00:29
• Story ID: 20543
• Location: US