Collaboration Equals Success

Photo By Sgt. Kenya Tate | Pfc. Richard Dexter, Staff Sgt. Ivan Moon, and Pfc. Matthew Bulger, B Company, 1204th, are hooking up a tractor to put the CH-47D on the scales.  

TAJI, IRAQ

03.28.2012

Story by Sgt. Kenya Tate 

1108th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group

Article and Photos by Staff Sergeant Amber Simpkins
1108th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group

TAJI, Iraq - The 1-111th General Support Aviation Bn. “Task Force Makos", along with the 1108th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group, B. Company 1204th Aviation Support Battalion, 29th Combat Aviation Brigade, were tasked with receiving 14 CH-47D helicopters out of Iraq, into Kuwait, and ultimately getting them transported to where they were needed. This task took a large amount of coordination with a large number of different organizations.

The 1/111th GSAB, Task Force Makos, were conducting retrograde operations at Contingency Operating Site, Taji, Iraq, when they were notified of a re-mission of CH-47D helicopters in November 2011. Key leaders involved in the expedient preparation to move the helicopters included: James Thompson and Mark Samuelson, Cargo PM office; CW3 Jimmy Hall, 1108th TASMG TF-12; Major Yantzee Hintz, B. Co. 1204th ASB; CIV John Ekstrom, L3 Contracting Team; and CW5 Albert Isennock, 29th CAB BAMO. Preparation to move the 14 helicopters from COS Taji, Iraq to Kuwait took months of coordination. The original plan was for Kuwait City International Airport to be the debarkation area for the 14 CH-47Ds. KCIA was unable to assist in providing an area for the helicopters. With little time remaining before the B. Company 1/111th CH-47 pilots had to depart Kuwait, Air Force Lt. Col. Steve Hamlin, 386th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, assisted in providing a debarkation area for the 14 CH-47Ds.

Before the aircraft could be sent anywhere, a great deal of work was put into preparing them for transport. Tasks involved with preparing the helicopters for movement included: removal of transmissions, rotor blades and tail pylon, defueling the aircraft, performing joint inspections, and weighing the aircraft. When asked what the mission was, CW2 Darryl Roberts said, “It is a complete teardown and transport of CH-47s to different theaters.” Lt. Col. William Mignon, 1/111th Bn. commander, oversaw the operation as CW2 Darryl Roberts and SSG Kelvin Reese, D. Company 1/111th; SFC Michael Lee, B. Company 1/111th; and SSG Ivan Moon, B. Company 1204th, worked together to lead more than 20 soldiers from three different units to quickly and efficiently prepare the CH-47Ds for transport. CW3 Jimmy Hall, 1108th TASMG TF-12 ensured that all the ground equipment needed was provided to accomplish this mission. Major Yantzee Hintz, B. Company 1204th assisted the mission by providing skilled soldiers and contractors. CW5 Albert Isennock, 29th CAB, coordinated with the Air Force to secure a debarkation location for the 14 helicopters and was involved with every aspect of the mission to ensure its success.

Captain Brian Cooper, D. Company 1/111th, said, “The real success story was the Air Force reaching out a hand and providing any resources that we required to get these aircraft back in the fight.” The 386th EOSS ensured the success of the CH-47D mission by providing a debarkation area and resources needed to expedite the handling of the aircraft and get them where they were needed. Six of the CH-47Ds were successfully sent to Afghanistan in January, seven will go through a reset program in the United States, and the remaining aircraft will go back to the United States to be transitioned from CH-47D model to CH-47F model.

• Date Taken: 03.28.2012
• Date Posted: 03.30.2012 04:33
• Story ID: 86002
• Location: TAJI, IQ