CAMP TAJI, Iraq — A Fort Riley, Kan., aviation battalion was named the “2010 Best Combat Support Battalion” in the Army during an aviation conference at Fort Rucker, Ala., Feb. 2.
The 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, leadership were not able to accept the Lt. Gen. Ellis D. Parker Award in person as they are currently deployed to Iraq as part of the Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.
The Parker Award was established in 1992 by Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, then Chief of Staff of the Army, to honor Lt. Gen. Ellis D. Parker at his retirement. The award recognizes aviation units that have excelled in the areas of leadership, training, maintenance and safety.
The battalion proved themselves during their year-long deployment to Iraq last spring. Normally consisting of seven companies, the battalion grew to a task force of nine companies with more than 700 soldiers and an additional 16 aircraft.
In 2010, the 2-1 GSAB provided aviation support throughout Iraq, flying more than 20,000 hours. During that time they transported almost 113,000 personnel and 5 million pounds of cargo with their Chinook and Black Hawk helicopters. The task force also provided medical evacuation and manned four air traffic control facilities.
Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Christopher C. Prather said during the deployment, the unit's pilots provided more support and flight hours than any other GSAB during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“We’ve done what no other battalion has had to do during a deployment,” Prather said. “Beyond supporting U.S. forces, we began an intense partnership with Iraqi army aviation squadrons. And for the first time flew partnered missions with one Iraq, and one US helicopter.”
Prather said his soldiers went above and beyond not only with the wide variety of missions the unit had, but also in their support of each other.
“Our success is a result of caring, small unit leaders who operate daily with compassion and ensure standards and discipline are maintained,” Prather said.