Photo By Darriel Swatts | The 40th Combat Aviation Brigade held a Transfer of Authority ceremony at Camp Taji,...... read more read more
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CAMP TAJI, Iraq – It’s official. The skies of Iraq now belong to the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade.
Under a bright Iraqi sun, a Transfer of Authority ceremony formalized the start of the 40th CAB’s yearlong mission: To provide full-spectrum aviation operations in Iraq.
The 40th CAB—call sign Task Force Condor—took over operations from the 1st CAB, which has returned home to Fort Riley, Kan. after successfully completing its yearlong tour.
On March 6, Col. Frank Muth and Command Sgt. Maj. James Thomson cased the 1st CAB’s colors at a courtyard ceremony in front of the brigade Tactical Operations Center at Camp Taji.
The 40th CAB’s commander, Col. Mitchell Medigovich, and Command Sgt. Maj. David McFerrin then uncased their brigade colors as Soldier’s from both brigades, several general officers and Iraqi distinguished guests looked on.
“This is a historic time and the challenges we will face this year will be unlike any other rotation before us,” Medigovich said.
The 40th CAB assumes command during a critical year in Iraq. American forces are drawing down as the Government of Iraq and Iraqi security forces take responsibility for security here.
In November, the 40th CAB was mobilized and sent to Fort Hood, Texas, where it conducted two months of intense pre-deployment training. Its Soldiers arrived in theater in February, taking responsibility for all Army aviation missions in Iraq—from medical evacuations to transportation of high-profile visitors to force protection, and more.
The 40th CAB is a unique collection of five battalions from the National Guard, Army Reserve and active-duty Army, with elements from 22 states. The brigade’s headquarters company is a California Army National Guard unit from Fresno.
Each of the battalions that make up the CAB had their own TOA ceremonies the first week of March. On March 1, the Army Reserve’s 8-229th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion from Fort Knox, Ky. assumed command at Camp Taji. On March 3, the Georgia National Guard’s 1-171st General Support Aviation Battalion assumed command, also at Camp Taji. On March 4, the Mississippi National Guard’s 1-185th Aviation Helicopter Battalion assumed command at Contingency Operating Base Speicher. The same day, the California Army National Guard’s 640th Aviation Support Battalion from Los Alamitos, Calif. assumed command at Camp Taji. And on March 5, the active-duty Army’s 6-17th Cavalry Squadron from Fort Wainwright, Alaska assumed command in Mosul.
Medigovich commands an organization made up of more than 3,000 soldiers and 200 aircraft, to include UH-60 Black Hawks, AH-64 Apaches, OH-58 Kiowas, CH-47 Chinooks, as well as fixed wing assets, such as the MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aerial system. At the final TOA on March 6 in front of 40th CAB’s headquarters building, Medigovich stood before the brigade’s colors and its blue and gold sunburst crest and took the reins from Muth. “The preparation is over,” Medigovich said. “It’s time to get to work.”
| Date Taken: | 03.06.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.19.2011 14:28 |
| Story ID: | 67365 |
| Location: | CAMP TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 326 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
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