Idaho Army National Guard deploys to Guatemala

Photo By Thomas Alvarez | 1st Sgt. Luke Bates, left, and Staff Sgt. Refugio Marquez steer a UH-60 Black Hawk into position inside the cargo bay of a C-5B Super Galaxy during loading operations. Maintenance personnel from the 183rd Assault Helicopter Battalion began preparing their aircraft for airlift in the days before uploading began. The Black Hawks required folding the main rotor blades, the tail rotors and removing the rear stabilizer in addition to a variety of others details in order to comply with airlift requirements. The Idaho Army National Guard’s 1-183rd AHB deployed to Guatemala in support of Beyond the Horizon 2019 on April 28. Aviators and crews from the 183rd AHB will fly support missions from Huehuetenanago in western Guatemala until July 27. The battalion will provide casualty evacuation support and equipment transportation for National Guard engineers and medics as they build schools and set up medical clinics in Guatemala.  

BOISE, IDAHO, UNITED STATES

04.29.2019

Courtesy Story

Idaho Army National Guard

Approximately 30 Soldiers from Idaho’s 1st Battalion of the 183rd Assault Helicopter Battalion deployed to Huehuetenango, Guatemala, Sunday in support of Beyond the Horizon 2019.

These Idaho Army National Guard aviation Soldiers will spend their annual training period providing casualty evacuation support and equipment transportation for U.S. military engineers and medics as they build schools and set up medical clinics for the citizens of Guatemala from April 28 to July 27.

“This mission is an excellent opportunity for our Soldiers to deploy to a foreign country and do their jobs in an unfamiliar environment,” said Maj. Bryan Reid, the unit’s operations and training officer.

Nearly 150 pilots, crew chiefs, mechanics, petroleum specialists, signal specialists and supply personnel from the 1-183rd Assault Helicopter Battalion will rotate through Guatemala in two-week rotations.

“It is really exciting to get an opportunity to fly helicopters in a foreign country,” said 1st Lt. Colton Ankeney, the Beyond the Horizon 2019 project officer. “It will provide its own challenges and experiences that you can’t get training in the States.”

Beyond the Horizon is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored, joint foreign military humanitarian civic assistance exercise. Hundreds of Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve members from all services will participate in the annual exercise.

The mission helps build relationships with the host nation by working with its military to improve the infrastructure and medical wellness of their citizens. Idaho Army National Guard Soldiers will receive valuable training in a deployed location to maintain their individual and unit readiness.

• Date Taken: 04.29.2019
• Date Posted: 04.30.2019 16:32
• Story ID: 320144
• Location: BOISE, IDAHO, US