Photo By Desiree Bamba | The Georgia Army National Guard conducts a send-off ceremony for the Company B,...... read more read more
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Family, friends and colleagues gathered at the Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah June 8, 2018 to honor the Soldiers of Company B, 1st Battalion, 169th General Support Aviation Battalion and Company B, 935th Aviation Support Battalion, Georgia National Guard.
The Savannah-based helicopter units are deploying in support of Operation Spartan Shield, a contingency operation within Central Command's area of responsibility. Their primary mission will be to build partner capacity in the Middle East to promote regional self-reliance and increase security.
“These Soldiers are the very best the nation has to offer,” said Col. Dwayne Wilson, commander of the 78th Aviation Troop Command, Georgia National Guard. “They have worked hard and are prepared for the deployment ahead.”
Over the past 22 months, Soldiers have trained and prepared for the deployment, focusing on warrior tasks, air support missions and aircraft maintenance. Members of Company B, 1-169th GSAB recently conducted disaster relief missions following Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria.
“It is an honor, privilege and awesome responsibility to lead these Soldiers,” said Capt. Brandon Long, Commander of Company B, 1-169th GSAB. “The unit is fully prepared to proved unrivalled support to the ground forces in theater.”
Originally designated the 1160th Transportation Company, Savannah’s helicopter units have their history rooted in Savannah since the late 1970s. In 2006 the unit was re-organized into separate detachments which included Company B, 1-169th GSAB. In 2012, 1-169th Soldiers fielded the Army’s most modern heavy lift helicopter, the CH-47F Chinook.
In 2006 the Georgia Army National Guard stood up an element of the 935th Aviation Support Battalion, designated Detachment 2, Company B, 935th DASB. Their mission in Savannah is to provide aviation intermediate maintenance (AVIM) support and back-up aviation unit maintenance (AVUM) support, including aircraft armament and avionics equipment repair.
“The Soldiers in front of you today have worked and trained hard,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Duane Sandbothe. “I look forward to working with each and every one of them as we move ahead.”
During the year-long deployment, the Soldiers of 1-169th GSAB will conduct aerial missions for support and stability operations while the Soldiers of the 935th ASB will conduct maintenance on all aircrafts while deployed.
| Date Taken: | 06.08.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 06.12.2018 13:15 |
| Story ID: | 280621 |
| Location: | HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 294 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Georgia National Guard Aviators Deploy in Support of Operation Spartan Shield, by Desiree Bamba, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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