FORT HOOD, Texas –Soldiers with 4th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion “Guns Attack,” 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division cased their colors at Cooper Field here Aug. 1 in preparation for their upcoming nine-month deployment to Kuwait.
More than 300 soldiers with 4-227th will deploy to Central Command’s area of operations to engage in a distinctive and historic mission, said Lt. Col. Hank Perry, 4-227th commander and Oceanside, Calif., native.
“Standing before you is an aviation team that returned from Operation Enduring Freedom last year and immediately reorganized and trained for a unique mission in Central Command’s theater of operations,” Perry said. “In addition to attack, reconnaissance, and security missions, our pilots and Soldiers performed previously in (Operation Iraqi Freedom) and OEF, we postured ourselves for overwater operations – maritime security tasks that we anticipate training and executing while deployed.”
For the last 10 months, the battalion has executed multiple training missions, including three helicopter gunneries, numerous live-fire and field training exercises, an overwater emergency extraction exercise at Belton Lake, Texas, and overwater familiarization training in Galveston, Texas, where all assigned aviators flew over the Gulf of Mexico while operating in reduced visibility.
Perry said his soldiers are focused on making an impact while deployed and is confident his troopers can overcome any challenges that come their way.
“We are focused on maintaining good relationships with our partners, maintaining stability in the region, and training our partners,” Perry said. “I have no question, when given any of our military missions, that we will accomplish it together as a team.”
Col. Cory Mendenhall, 1st ACB commander and Bonners Ferry, Idaho, native, said during the ceremony that 4-227th’s upcoming mission will bring its own unique set of challenges to overcome.
“You will be challenged by some of the harshest environments for helicopters and soldiers to operate in – blowing sand, extreme temperatures, dark skies, and stormy seas,” said Mendenhall. “You will be asked to execute your mission with the utmost precision and professionalism and your ability to work through adversity as a team will be tested every day.”
Mendenhall said he has watched 4-227th train day-in and day-out in preparation to overcome these challenges and knows “Guns Attack” is ready to accomplish the mission at hand.
“Over the past 10 months, Lt. Col. Perry, Command Sgt. Maj. Hurst, and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Cosyns have successfully developed your battalion into a lethal, agile and adaptive force ready to execute your unique mission in support of U.S. Army Central Command,” Mendenhall said, addressing Soldiers of 4-227th. “You have worked extremely hard in your preparation and we are very proud of each and every one of you. 4th Battalion, you are ready.”