Sounds Of Freedom YEAR IN REVIEW
25th CAB Public Affairs OIC: Capt. Ozzie Smith NCOIC: S g t . 1 s t C l a s s Ty r o n e M a r s h a l l Public Affairs NCO: Staff Sgt. Mike Alberts Photojournalists: Sgt. Karl Williams Sgt. Daniel Schroeder
Col. Frank Tate Commander, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade
Story by Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs WHEELER ARMY AIRFIELD, Hawaii – The 25th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) has had a busy and productive year finishing up a yearlong deployment from northern Iraq and conducting a comprehensive Soldier and equipment reset. The aviation brigade held a redeployment ceremony at Wheeler Army Airfield on Oct 5, 2010. The redeployment ceremony was hosted by Col. Mike Lundy, then commander of 25th CAB, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jesus Ruiz, command sergeant major, 25th CAB, and featured remarks from Maj. Gen. Bernard S. Champoux, commanding general, 25th Infantry Division (ID). A multitude of family,
Command Sgt. Maj. Jesus Ruiz Command Sergeant Major, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade
friends and fellow Soldiers came together with the 25th CAB in celebrating the official end of the deployment. But most importantly, the CAB used the ceremony to show its appreciation for its Soldiers and families for their hard work and sacrifice. Champoux highlighted some of the 25th CAB’s achievements as Task Force Wings assisted in setting conditions for Operation New Dawn. “Task Force Wings was the largest aviation brigade in the Army with 196 aircraft and over 4,000 Soldiers and Airmen. Task Force Wings included units from the Tennessee National Guard, 12th [CAB], Task Force ODIN, the Ohio Air National Guard and multiple Air Force Weather Teams.” He added, “The 25th Combat Aviation Brigade had the highest operational
flight tempo in the Army during combat operations including the execution of over 200 phase inspections on its 196 aircraft. In total, [the CAB] flew over 140,000 flight hours.” In addition, the “Wings of Lightning” Brigade conducted a series of changes of command culminating in the brigade change of command ceremony at Sills Field on Schofield Barracks, Oct. 21, 2010, with Col. Mike Lundy relinquishing command to Col. Frank Tate. Colonel Lundy gave a poignant speech reflecting on his command time and the CAB’s milestones. “On the field today stands a true team of teams, focused with the singular purpose of providing the very best attack, reconnaissance, assault, MEDEVAC, and heavy-lift aviation support to our Soldiers on the ground. They are the best at
25th Combat Aviation Brigade
YEAR IN REVIEW (CONT.) what they do – not because of who the commander was, but because of who they are as Soldiers and citizens of our Nation. They exemplify everything that is great about our Army.” The incoming commander, Col. Frank Tate, stated his desire for loyalty and the continuation of high standards and professionalism that have proven to be the hallmark for the 25th CAB. In the time since the CAB has returned, it has reached many new milestones including the reception of new CH47F model Chinook helicopters and completing a groundbreaking aircraft transfer operation. The Wings of Lightning Brigade also demonstrated its commitment to the total Soldier reset concept. Units participated in the Army’s Strong Bonds program, assisted its Soldiers with stress relief through the Warrior Adventure
Quest program, and held its first Level I Master Resiliency Training course. Throughout the course of the CAB’s redeployment and reintegration, the brigade also participated in numerous community relations events including hearing testing with partnership schools in the surrounding areas, beach clean-up projects, volunteer assistance to cross country events with Mililani Middle School and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The CAB resumed flight training operations Nov. 1, 2010, as it, once again, begins to travel the “Road to War” under the leadership of Col. Tate. This has been truly been a great year for 25th CAB Soldiers and family members. We closed the chapter on one story and prepare to write another focusing on future operations and deployments. “Wings of Lightning!”
Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. | 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
Colonel Mike Lundy (right), commander, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), Task Force Wings, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jesus Ruiz, command sergeant major, 25th CAB, TF Wings, uncase the “Wings of Lightning” Brigade’s Colors during their Transfer of Authority Ceremony at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, near Tikrit, Iraq, Oct. 9, 2009. TF Wings assumed control of full spectrum aviation operations during an ensuming 12-month deployment to United States Division-North.
25th Combat Aviation Brigade
Staff Sgt. Mike Alberts | 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
Iraqi Security Force Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 19th Iraqi Army Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division, and U.S. Soldiers, prepare to load CH-47D Chinook and UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters during a combined air assault mission from Contingency Operating Location Grizzly, in Diyala Province, Iraq, Feb 17, 2010.
Staff Sgt. Mike Alberts | 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
A UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter, assigned to 2nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, Task Force Diamond Head, and flown by Col. Mike Lundy, commander, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force Wings, conducts a dust landing near a Combined Checkpoint in northern Iraq, April 1, 2010.
25th Combat Aviation Brigade
General George W. Casey, Army Chief of Staff, re-enlists Soldiers from Task Force Wings during a short visit to Contingency Operating Base Speicher, near Tikrit, Iraq, Dec. 20, 2009.
Staff Sgt. Mike Alberts | 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
Staff Sgt. Nathan Kildoo, a Standardizations NCO, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, Task Force Diamond Head, leads a cold load training session with Iraqi Army Soldiers in northern Iraq, Dec. 27, 2009. Staff Sgt. Mike Alberts | 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
An OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter flies parallel to the horizon at sunset during a reconnaissance mission in northern Iraq, March 19, 2009. (Photo courtesy of 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Lightning Horse)
25th Combat Aviation Brigade
Sgt. Jesus Aranda | 25th Infantry Division Public Affairs
Colonel Mike Lundy (center), commander, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), and Command Sgt. Maj. Jesus Ruiz, command sergeant major, 25th CAB, uncase the brigade’s Colors during its redeployment ceremony held at Wheeler Army Airfield, Oct. 5, 2010. The ceremony provided an opportunity for family, friends and the local community to officially welcome the 25th CAB back to Hawaii following its year-long deployment to northern Iraq.
Colonel Frank Tate, commander, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, accepts the colors of the “Wings of Lightning” Brigade from Maj. Gen. Bernard S. Champoux, commander, 25th Infantry Division, during his change of command on Sills Field at Schofield Barracks, Oct. 21, 2010. Colonel Tate assumed command from Col. Mike Lundy. Courtesy Photo | 25th Infantry Division Public Affairs
25th Combat Aviation Brigade
Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. | 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
Helicopter rear tail stabilizers are staged for assembly as a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter arrives from Ft. Drum, N.Y., and is removed from the belly of an airplane by URS Corporation civilian contractors at Hickam Air Force Base, Nov. 1, 2010. The aircraft were later flown to Wheeler Army Airfield.
Two new CH-47F Chinook helicopters take off from Joint Base Pearl HarborHickam’s Pier 3 - 5 in Honolulu, en-route to Wheeler Army Airfield, Nov. 19, 2010.
Sgt. Karl Williams | 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
A pilot assigned to 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, begins to swim to the surface after pulling himself free from a submerged helicopter mock-up during the unit’s ‘Dunker Heeds’ training at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Nov. 3, 2010. Staff Sgt. Mike Alberts | 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
25th Combat Aviation Brigade
Sgt. Karl Williams | 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
After assaulting an objective, Soldiers from A Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, (foreground) pull security at a landing zone for UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters (background) from 2nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, at East Range, near Wheeler Army Airfield, Nov. 30, 2010.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher Mahoney | 25th Combat Aviation Brigade
Specialist Daniel Pangelinan, an Aircraft Structural Repairer, assigned to 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), conducts hearing tests for first and second graders at Mililani Mauka Elementary School, in Mililani, Hawaii, Jan. 19.