628th ASB's performance "remarkable," awarded by AAAA

Photo By Maj. Travis Mueller | U.S. Soldiers with Bravo Company, 628th Aviation Support Battalion, 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade reinstall the main rotor head on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter after routine maintenance at an airfield in the 28th ECAB’s area of operations in the Middle East. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Francis Calabro)  

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES

10.15.2021

Story by Capt. Travis Mueller 

28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade

The 628th Aviation Support Battalion, after their year-long deployment to the Middle East, was recognized as the 2021 Outstanding Logistics Support Unit of the Year by the Army Aviation Association of America.

According to AAAA, the award is presented "to the Active Army or Reserve Component aviation unit that has made an outstanding contribution to or innovation in the logistic support of Army Aviation."

The 628th ASB is the primary logistics unit within the Pennsylvania National Guard's 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade. They provide transportation, fuel, supplies, maintenance and communications support to the brigade. Operating as Task Force Roadrunner during the deployment, their 600 Soldiers were spread throughout 12 different locations in Kuwait, Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

“I’m very proud of the 628th ASB’s Soldiers and glad that their extraordinary accomplishments are being recognized by the Army Aviation enterprise,” said Lt. Col. Michael Gross, who was the commander of the 628th ASB during the deployment. “This award is well deserved and they should be proud of their efforts providing sustainment while supporting Operations Inherent Resolve and Spartan Shield. As National Guard Soldiers they answered the call, trained as a new team and made a direct impact during the 28th ECAB deployment.”

The award citation mentions that the battalion executed 25 aircraft phases, a strenuous and time-consuming process where crews perform maintenance on all parts of a helicopter, convoyed over 175,000 miles, distributed resources throughout the area and leveraged Temporary Enabling Force missions.

These TEF missions involved the “non-doctrinal” use of Soldiers’ skills to save the U.S. government millions of dollars by providing equipment inventories, container consolidation and non-standard maintenance activities.

AAAA also acknowledged that the 628th ASB’s deployment, and preparation for it, had to be done amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This deployment was the first time I have ever served in the position and performed the duties of a Command Sergeant Major and I couldn’t have asked for a better group of well-disciplined, hardworking, caring and team-oriented Soldiers to lead in these operations,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Fleming, the senior enlisted leader for the 628th ASB. “Family members and loved ones should be extremely proud of their Soldiers for a job well done.”

AAAA will formally present the award to 628th ASB leaders during a presentation next month in Huntsville, Alabama.

• Date Taken: 10.15.2021
• Date Posted: 10.15.2021 16:48
• Story ID: 407373
• Location: FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PENNSYLVANIA, US