Idaho Guard returns from Guatemala deployment

Courtesy Photo | Soldiers from the 1st Battalion 183rd Assault Helicopter Battalion visit a local orphanage in Huehuetenango, Guatemala, prior to returning home July 27. The unit deployed to Guatemala with approximately 150 Soldiers from the Idaho Army National Guard in support of Beyond the Horizon 2019, April 28 to July 27.  

BOISE, ID, UNITED STATES

08.01.2019

Story by Crystal Farris 

Idaho Army National Guard

Approximately 30 Soldiers from Idaho’s 1st Battalion of the 183rd Assault Helicopter Battalion returned home Saturday after deploying to Huehuetenango, Guatemala, in support of Beyond the Horizon 2019.

During the operation, Idaho Army National Guard aviation Soldiers provided casualty evacuation support and equipment transportation for U.S. military engineers and medics building local schools and medical clinics.

“The opportunity to change lives and be a part of a mission that brought dramatic change to the economic growth of Huehuetenango is life changing. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Beyond the Horizon mission,” said Maj. Bryan Reid, the unit’s operations and training officer.

Nearly 150 pilots, crew chiefs, mechanics, petroleum specialists, signal specialists and supply personnel from the unit rotated through Guatemala in two-week rotations from April 28 to July 27. They completed 50 missions and 210 flight hours, to include transportation of 600 passengers and 9,000 pounds of cargo.

In addition, the Idaho Army National Guard aviation Soldiers conducted joint training with soldiers from the Guatemalan Armed Forces. The training gave all participants the opportunity to share skills and practice loading injured individuals into UH-60 Black Hawks.

“I have never experienced the flying that I experienced during the Beyond the Horizon mission. The terrain, weather, mission sets, and flying experience gained during this mission forever left a mark on my flying career,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 K Kirkendall, the Beyond the Horizon 2019 aviator. “It provided unique opportunities to challenge and training for everyone during the mission.”

Beyond the Horizon is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored, joint foreign military humanitarian civic assistance exercise. Hundreds of Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve members from all services participate annually to help build relations with the host nation.

• Date Taken: 08.01.2019
• Date Posted: 11.06.2019 12:58
• Story ID: 350705
• Location: BOISE, ID, US