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Task Force Thunder takes over

Photo By Master Sgt. Kevin Doheny | Lt. Col. Paul Ambrose, Commander 1st Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, 18th Aviation...... read more read more

11.25.2005

Courtesy Story

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The transfer of authority from Task Force Warfighter, 18th Aviation Brigade out of Fort Bragg, N.C., to Task Force Thunder, 159th Combat Aviation Bde., 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky., was made official in a ceremony Nov. 8 presided over by Lt. Gen. John Vines, Multinational Corps - Iraq Commander.
The transition began with 3rd Battalion, 101st Avn. Regiment, 159th Avn. Bde. conducting relief-in-place in October, said Maj. Scott Hasken, Operations Officer in Charge for the brigade. Large unit movements will finish by Dec. 15, and small units will transition until March, he said.
While battalions from each unit continue to transition and hand over duties in the coming months, the command and control was officially passed through the casing of the 18th Avn. Bde. colors and the uncasing of the 159th Avn. colors during the ceremony.
"Army aviation is better than it has ever been in its history," Vines said in his speech at the ceremony. The general went on to commend the departing unit for "a brilliant job, superbly done" and said it was great to have the Screaming Eagles in the area of operations again.
With approximately 75,000 hours of flight time logged by the Warfighters during their mission here over the past year, the 159th can look forward to many hours in the air. Preparation for this lofty mission began months prior to Task Force Thunder's deployment.
"Both task forces communicated early, as soon as the units were identified. We shared information and established points of contact between each unit," said Maj. Dave Leach, 18th Avn. Bde. Executive Officer. "The preparation for transfer went extremely well."
And the mission being handed over is a unique one.
"On any given day, 18th Aviation is moving 15 to 20 general officers," Hasken said.
"The primary mission of the Corps aviation brigade is to move Soldiers and equipment inside the entire Iraqi theater," Hasken said. "The purpose is to keep Soldiers off the road as much as possible and support the warfighter in remote locations."
Among these responsibilities is the transport of Gen. Casey and Vines as well as other dignitaries, he said.
Hasken said the obstacles faced so far in the transition have been the normal challenges a unit moving people and Soldiers 6,000 miles would face, but overall the process has gone smoothly.
"The staging, movement and reception of people and equipment are difficult tasks," he said.
The 159th Avn. Bde. prepared for the deployment by doing a rotation at the Joint Readiness Combat Center, Fork Polk, La. as well as participating in a mission readiness exercise and conducting internal brigade training, Hasken said.
However, he acknowledges that it takes time for Soldiers to adjust to the increased operational tempo in a deployment environment.
"A lot of care and attention has to be given to the ongoing risk assessment to make sure Soldiers and equipment are ready," he said. "We'll be triple checking data and paying attention to detail."
Leach said the Warfighters" mission has gone very well and has been extremely busy over the last year.
"We have a very good safety record due to the emphasis of safety on leaders and Soldiers," he said. "Our great mission accomplishment is due to the support and hard work of Soldiers, specifically aircraft maintenance."
Leach advised the incoming task force to stick to the basics to accomplish the mission.
"Just do the basics well and the mission will be successful," Leach said.
Leach said several historic events occurred while his unit's been in country, including Iraq's democratic elections and the approval of the constitution.
"We're going home with the knowledge of a job well done and a feeling of satisfaction that the country of Iraq is better off," he said.