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CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – Soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment (Assault), 77th Combat Aviation Brigade, install vital upgrades to their UH-60s at the Udari Airfield, Kuwait.
The 2-244th, a National Guard unit from Virginia, are doing their last preparations before they begin conducting missions in Kuwait and Iraq.
Getting these aircraft from the U.S. and into theater is no easy task.
Luckily, Third Army, who is the U.S. military’s logistical hub throughout the Middle East, is there to help them along the way.
“It is my job to make sure I get them everything they need,” said Cpt. Kyle Lee, who serves as the Shipping and Aerial Ports of Debarkation officer in charge with the Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group, Third Army, and a native of Baltimore. “That is why we make contact with them before the unit gets in country.”
The TASMG facilitates the shipping of aviation unit’s helicopters into theater.
“Once I find out what their timetable for when they need the aircraft ready, I facilitate everything they need so they can accomplish the goal they are trying to achive,” said Lee.
To accomplish this task, shipments are placed using the APOD’s airfield or SPOD’s shipping lanes to bring UH-60s in and out of theater. Both shipping points offer different advantages and disadvantages to meet any units’ deployment timeline.
“If the aircraft is shipped to the SPOD, it doesn’t have get broken down as much and we can ship more, because we don’t have to worry as much about space or weight limitations,” said Lee. “If it goes by air it gets here quicker but more maintenance has to go into reassembling the helicopter.”
Third Army’s ability to offer two locations gives aviation commanders flexibility by shipping some aircraft by air, in C5s, C17s or the Russian Tupolev airplanes, through the APOD, or others come by commercial ships, through the SPOD.
“By having both the APOD and SPOD here in Kuwait we are able to provide units greater leeway so they are able to meet their timeline,” said Lee.
Once the aircraft arrive in Kuwait, the TASMG and their contractor partners help units unfold the birds and prepare them for flight.
“Once we get the aircraft here with the help of the TASMG we are able to get them ready to fly and move them up to Udari,” said Staff Sgt. Troy Patterson, who serves as a Platoon Sergeant, with B Company, 2-224th, and a native of Richmond, Va.
Udari Airfield is the last stop before UH-60s and warfighters head to the battlefield. Third Army Contractors help units add on ballistic protective armor, inlet barrier filters to protect the aircraft from sand, and the infrared anti-collision lights to keep them tactical.
The movement from the states to the warzone can be as quick as 72 hours by air, but commanders with more time may opt for a larger more inexpensive move by sea.
“Third Army has been excellent. It has been really quick because everything has been right on-time and they have given us everything we have needed,” said Patterson.
Once the UH-60s are ready, aviation teams have been able to adjust to the new climate and limit stress in any last minute details preparing for the mission ahead.
“I want every unit to be satisfied with their experience when they are shipping anything through the APOD and SPOD and make sure they have whatever they need,” said Lee.
| Date Taken: | 05.17.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 05.17.2011 01:28 |
| Story ID: | 70490 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 263 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, By land or by sea: Third Army ensures aviation units have everything they need to get to the battlefield, by SFC Ryan Hohman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
