Photo By Capt. Penelope Haussler | Maj. Theresa Long, Lt. Col. Long, Maj. Craig Neeley and Maj. Carisa Kimbro are...... read more read more
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 26, 2018) -- The 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 149th Aviation Regiment of the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, 36th Infantry Division, received the Army Aviation Association of America 2017 Army National Guard Unit of the Year Award at the Army Aviation Solutions Summit.
“What the Rough Rider formation accomplished was truly impressive,” said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Long, the 2-149th GSAB commander. “I am very proud of every soldier in our formations and grateful for the support from family, friends and employers which enabled our success.”
Initially, the mission for the Task Force Rough Riders, composed of elements from across the nation, to deploy 45 aircraft, eight companies and 633 Soldiers, was simple: support the mission in the Middle East, replacing the previous GSAB. Naturally, the mission’s complexity evolved.
The battalion’s primary mission set across 12 locations spanning four countries included aerial and quick response forces, air mission requests, medevac, air traffic services and air weapons team strikes. At its peak, the task force was the sole provider of Army aviation lift and medevac in the region.
Over the course of the deployment, Task Force Rough Riders accomplished nearly 10,000 flight hours, more than 650 air mission requests, over 115 medevac missions, including several extremely high-risk missions in support of troops in contact, the first deployment of the mobile operating tower system, the first multi-national aerial response force exercise with Iraqi Army Aviation and several aerial and quick-response-force operations. Furthermore, the task force played an integral role in supporting the Government of Iraq in several effective engagements against the Islamic State group.
The GSAB was recognized for its “incomparable innovation, resourcefulness, resiliency and courage in its overwhelming success in an ever-changing mission in Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait during Operation Inherent Resolve to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and Operation Spartan Shield enabling regional stability.”
Based in Grand Prairie, the 2-149th GSAB trains to provide general aviation support to ground forces with aircraft, pilots, mechanics and air traffic support.
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| Date Taken: | 04.26.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 07.21.2018 15:55 |
| Story ID: | 285213 |
| Location: | AUSTIN, TX, US |
| Hometown: | AUSTIN, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 2,780 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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