12 CAB hosts Aviation Speaker Series

Photo By Thomas Mort | An audience member asks the panel a question, during a speaker series in hanger two on Katterbach Kaserne, Germany, April 21, 2022. The intention of the speaker series is to discuss the importance of collective security and the success of the transatlantic partnership and friendship. 12 CAB is among other units assigned to V Corps, America's Forward Deployed Corps in Europe. V Corps works alongside NATO Allies and regional security partners to provide combat-ready forces, execute joint and multinational training exercises, and retain command and control for all rotational and assigned units in the European Theater. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Mort)  

BY, GERMANY

04.21.2022

Story by Capt. Gabrielle Hildebrand 

12th Combat Aviation Brigade

KATTERBACH, Germany - U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach and the city of Ansbach held the second of three speakers series in hanger two on Katterbach Kaserne, Germany, April 21, 2022. The intention of the speaker series is to discuss the importance of collective security and the success of the transatlantic partnership and friendship.

“Planning for the series began last year before the current events in Ukraine,” said U.S. Army Col. Karen Hobart, garrison commander, USAG Ansbach. “We hope that this important event will bring a greater understanding of why the United States Army is still in Germany and how Germany and the United States partner together to secure our collective future.”

The event consisted of a panel of three U.S. Army Aviators, Col. John Broam, former 12th Combat Aviation Brigade commander, now serving as the chief of staff for the Office of the chair of the NATO Military Committee. Col. Patrick Schuck, current commander of 12 CAB, and Maj. Nicklaus Franck, liaison to the Bundeswehr Division Schnelle Kraefte (DSK), and concentrated on the role of U.S. Army Aviation in Germany and beyond.

Schuck provided a history lesson for the attendees to better understand what 12 CAB looked like in the past and where they are now.

“In the 1980s the American forces in Europe numbered more than 350,000 personnel and 1,000 helicopters,” said Schuck. “However with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, and the strength in the establishment of the European Union and what would be the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact the U.S. service members, numbers in personnel and helicopters, all declined.”

Shuck continued by stating that the number of Soldiers and helicopters continued to decline up until 2014 when Russia invaded Ukraine and seized part of Donbas and Crimea. Having only one aviation brigade in Europe was not enough and a regionally aligned aviation rotation force was added to Illeshiem.

“Today, once again, Russia has invaded Ukraine, and 12 CAB is deployed forward,” said Schuck. “So both battalions, from Katterbach, Wiesbaden, and Grafenwoehr, are trending from the Baltics, along the eastern front of NATO all the way down to Greece. We remain committed to the defense of Europe in support of NATO.”

With his closing comment, Schuck turned the conversation over to Broam who shared, among other things, how nice it was to be back in Katterbach. Broam, the previous commander of 12 CAB, currently works at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

“NATO recently celebrated 73 years and in that time the bond between Europe and North America has made NATO the strongest military alliance the world has ever seen,” said Broam.

He continued to say that a strong alliance is not made by just military units and the Soldiers but also comprised of the people living in the countries.

“NATO is the bedrock of enduring transatlantic security and it serves as a defensive wall of our shared values of democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law,” added Broam.

The NATO alliance has been strong during the crisis and the U.S. has stood by NATO to help deter Russian aggression along the Eastern flank, however, real-world interoperability is not possible without training.

Franck provided insight on how important training between different units is by giving an example between 12 CAB and the Bundeswehr DSK.

“At the time we [Bundeswehr DSK] didn't have aircraft and you have to have aircraft to do an air assault so we sent an invite to Col. Schuck,” said Franck.

Franck illuminated on the training conducted between 12 CAB and the Bundeswehr and how it has helped identify the unit's strengths, and weaknesses, and how important joint training opportunities are.

Attendees had the opportunity to see inside a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, an AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter, and the Army's newest air defense platform, the Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD).

The 12 CAB is the only enduring aviation brigade present throughout Europe that enables the U.S. to deter and defend against threats from any direction.

12 CAB is among other units assigned to V Corps, America's Forward Deployed Corps in Europe. V Corps works alongside NATO Allies and regional security partners to provide combat-ready forces, execute joint and multinational training exercises, and retain command and control for all rotational and assigned units in the European Theater.

For more stories, images, and videos on what the 12 CAB is doing, visit our DVIDS page, https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/12CAB.

• Date Taken: 04.21.2022
• Date Posted: 05.04.2022 13:34
• Story ID: 419862
• Location: BY, DE