JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Approximately two dozen Soldiers with Charlie Company, 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 151st Aviation Regiment, Pennsylvania National Guard, were honored in a ceremony today as they prepare to depart for a yearlong deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.
Other companies in the 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 151st Aviation Regiment from the South Carolina National Guard will join Charlie Company to form a task force that will provide aviation capabilities with AH-64 Apaches, UH-60 Black Hawks, CH-47 Chinooks, and medevac assets
Col. Marc Ferraro, Deputy Commanding General-Maneuver, 28th Infantry Division, other distinguished guests, and Soldiers’ friends and families were present for the departure ceremony August 23.
“These Soldiers are ready to go out and do the nation’s business. They’ve trained hard, sacrificed a lot, and not only them, but friends, family, relatives, employers to give them the support they need,” said Ferraro.
The Soldiers’ mission will be operate the AH-64 Apache. The aircraft are designed to conduct armed reconnaissance, close combat, mobile strike, and vertical maneuver missions when required, in day, night, obscured battlefield, and adverse weather conditions.
“For us, it is our dream to ferociously and furiously fix and fly the Apache helicopter for the greatest purpose: the protection of others,” said Capt. Bradford Ritzel, commander of Charlie Company, 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 151st Aviation Regiment.
Throughout their train up, Soldiers will join together with other National Guard and active duty soldiers from around the country during the mobilization process and finally with multinational partners once they arrive in Afghanistan.
“The secret to the success of this company is that we have genuinely good people. Charlie Company, bring your tools, bring your flight gear, bring your ‘A’ game, and bring everyone home,” said Ritzel.
Deployment ceremonies honor the courage needed both by those who serve and the families, friends and employers who support them.