Sounds of Freedom is the newsletter of the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade.
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Sounds Of Freedom Col. Frank Tate Commander, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade 25th CAB Public Affairs OIC: Capt. Ozzie Smith NCOIC: Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone Marshall Public Affairs NCO: Staff Sgt. Mike Alberts Photojournalists: Sgt. Karl Williams Sgt. Daniel Schroeder Command Sgt. Maj. Jesus Ruiz Command Sergeant Major, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade YEAR IN REVIEW Story by Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs WHEELER ARMY AIRFIELD, Hawaii – The 25th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) has had a busy and productive year finishing up a year- long deployment from northern Iraq and conduct- ing a comprehensive Sol- dier and equipment reset. The aviation brigade held a redeployment ceremony at Wheeler Army Airfield on Oct 5, 2010. The redeploy- ment ceremony was hosted by Col. Mike Lundy, then commander of 25th CAB, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jesus Ruiz, command ser- geant major, 25th CAB, and featured remarks from Maj. Gen. Bernard S. Champoux, commanding general, 25th Infantry Division (ID). A multitude of family, friends and fellow Soldiers came together with the 25th CAB in celebrating the official end of the deploy- ment. But most importantly, the CAB used the ceremony to show its appreciation for its Soldiers and families for their hard work and sacri- fice. Champoux highlighted some of the 25th CAB’s achievements as Task Force Wings assisted in setting conditions for Operation New Dawn. “Task Force Wings was the largest aviation brigade in the Army with 196 aircraft and over 4,000 Soldiers and Airmen. Task Force Wings included units from the Ten- nessee National Guard, 12th [CAB], Task Force ODIN, the Ohio Air National Guard and multiple Air Force Weather Teams.” He added, “The 25th Com- bat Aviation Brigade had the highest operational flight tempo in the Army during combat operations including the execution of over 200 phase inspections on its 196 aircraft. In total, [the CAB] flew over 140,000 flight hours.” In addition, the “Wings of Lightning” Brigade con- ducted a series of changes of command culminating in the brigade change of command ceremony at Sills Field on Schofield Barracks, Oct. 21, 2010, with Col. Mike Lundy relinquishing com- mand to Col. Frank Tate. Colonel Lundy gave a poi- gnant speech reflecting on his command time and the CAB’s milestones. “On the field today stands a true team of teams, focused with the singular purpose of providing the very best attack, reconnaissance, assault, MEDEVAC, and heavy-lift aviation sup- port to our Soldiers on the ground. They are the best at
Transcript
Sounds Of Freedom
Col. Frank TateCommander, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade
2 5 t h C A B P u b l i c A f f a i r s
O I C :
C a p t . O z z i e S m i t h
N C O I C :
S g t . 1 s t C l a s s Ty r o n e M a r s h a l l
Story bySgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
WHEELER ARMY AIRFIELD, Hawaii – The 25th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) has had a busy and productive year finishing up a year-long deployment from northern Iraq and conduct-ing a comprehensive Sol-dier and equipment reset. The aviation brigade held a redeployment ceremony at Wheeler Army Airfield on Oct 5, 2010. The redeploy-ment ceremony was hosted by Col. Mike Lundy, then commander of 25th CAB, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jesus Ruiz, command ser-geant major, 25th CAB, and featured remarks from Maj. Gen. Bernard S. Champoux, commanding general, 25th Infantry Division (ID). A multitude of family,
friends and fellow Soldiers came together with the 25th CAB in celebrating the official end of the deploy-ment. But most importantly, the CAB used the ceremony to show its appreciation for its Soldiers and families for their hard work and sacri-fice.Champoux highlighted some of the 25th CAB’s achievements as Task Force Wings assisted in setting conditions for Operation New Dawn.“Task Force Wings was the largest aviation brigade in the Army with 196 aircraft and over 4,000 Soldiers and Airmen. Task Force Wings included units from the Ten-nessee National Guard, 12th [CAB], Task Force ODIN, the Ohio Air National Guard and multiple Air Force Weather Teams.” He added, “The 25th Com-bat Aviation Brigade had the highest operational
flight tempo in the Army during combat operations including the execution of over 200 phase inspections on its 196 aircraft. In total, [the CAB] flew over 140,000 flight hours.”In addition, the “Wings of Lightning” Brigade con-ducted a series of changes of command culminating in the brigade change of command ceremony at Sills Field on Schofield Barracks, Oct. 21, 2010, with Col. Mike Lundy relinquishing com-mand to Col. Frank Tate.Colonel Lundy gave a poi-gnant speech reflecting on his command time and the CAB’s milestones. “On the field today stands a true team of teams, focused with the singular purpose of providing the very best attack, reconnaissance, assault, MEDEVAC, and heavy-lift aviation sup-port to our Soldiers on the ground. They are the best at
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dewhat they do – not because of who the commander was, but because of who they are as Soldiers and citizens of our Nation. They exemplify everything that is great about our Army.”The incoming commander, Col. Frank Tate, stated his desire for loyalty and the continuation of high standards and professionalism that have proven to be the hallmark for the 25th CAB. In the time since the CAB has returned, it has reached many new milestones including the reception of new CH-47F model Chinook helicopters and completing a groundbreaking aircraft transfer operation. The Wings of Lightning Brigade also demonstrated its commitment to the total Soldier reset concept. Units partic-ipated in the Army’s Strong Bonds pro-gram, assisted its Soldiers with stress relief through the Warrior Adventure
Quest program, and held its first Level I Master Resiliency Training course. Throughout the course of the CAB’s redeployment and reintegration, the brigade also participated in numerous community relations events includ-ing hearing testing with partnership schools in the surrounding areas, beach clean-up projects, volunteer assistance to cross country events with Mililani Middle School and the Muscular Dys-trophy Association. The CAB resumed flight training operations Nov. 1, 2010, as it, once again, begins to travel the “Road to War” under the leadership of Col. Tate. This has been truly been a great year for 25th CAB Soldiers and family members. We closed the chapter on one story and prepare to write another focusing on future operations and deployments. “Wings of Lightning!”
YEAR IN REVIEW (CONT.)
Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. | 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
Colonel Mike Lundy (right), commander, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), Task Force Wings, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jesus Ruiz, command sergeant major, 25th CAB, TF Wings, uncase the “Wings of Lightning” Brigade’s Colors during their Transfer of Authority Ceremony at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, near Tikrit, Iraq, Oct. 9, 2009. TF Wings assumed control of full spectrum aviation opera-tions during an ensuming 12-month deployment to United States Division-North.
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Staff Sgt. Mike Alberts | 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
Iraqi Security Force Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 19th Iraqi Army Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division, and U.S. Soldiers, prepare to load CH-47D Chinook and UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters during a combined air assault mission from Contingency Operat-ing Location Grizzly, in Diyala Province, Iraq, Feb 17, 2010.
A UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter, assigned to 2nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, Task Force Diamond Head, and flown by Col. Mike Lundy, com-mander, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force Wings, conducts a dust landing near a Combined Checkpoint in northern Iraq, April 1, 2010.
Staff Sgt. Mike Alberts | 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
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An OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter flies parallel to the horizon at sunset during a recon-naissance mission in northern Iraq, March 19, 2009. (Photo courtesy of 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Light-ning Horse)
Staff Sgt. Nathan Kildoo, a Standard-izations NCO, Head-quarters and Head-quarters Company, 2nd Assault Helicop-ter Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, Task Force Diamond Head, leads a cold load training ses-sion with Iraqi Army Soldiers in northern Iraq, Dec. 27, 2009.
Staff Sgt. Mike Alberts | 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
Staff Sgt. Mike Alberts | 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
General George W. Casey, Army Chief of Staff, re-enlists Sol-diers from Task Force Wings during a short visit to Contingency Operating Base Speicher, near Tikrit, Iraq, Dec. 20, 2009.
Colonel Mike Lundy (center), commander, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), and Command Sgt. Maj. Jesus Ruiz, command sergeant major, 25th CAB, uncase the brigade’s Colors during its redeployment ceremony held at Wheeler Army Airfield, Oct. 5, 2010. The ceremony provided an opportunity for family, friends and the local community to officially welcome the 25th CAB back to Hawaii following its year-long deployment to northern Iraq.
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Sgt. Jesus Aranda | 25th Infantry Division Public Affairs
Colonel Frank Tate, commander, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, accepts the colors of the “Wings of Lightning” Brigade from Maj. Gen. Ber-nard S. Champoux, commander, 25th Infantry Division, during his change of command on Sills Field at Schofield Barracks, Oct. 21, 2010. Colonel Tate assumed command from Col. Mike Lundy.
Courtesy Photo | 25th Infantry Division Public Affairs
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A pilot assigned to 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Combat Avia-tion Brigade, begins to swim to the surface after pulling himself free from a submerged helicop-ter mock-up during the unit’s ‘Dunker Heeds’ training at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Nov. 3, 2010.
Two new CH-47F Chinook helicopters take off from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam’s Pier 3 - 5 in Honolulu, en-route to Wheeler Army Airfield, Nov. 19, 2010.
Helicopter rear tail stabilizers are staged for assembly as a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter ar-rives from Ft. Drum, N.Y., and is removed from the belly of an airplane by URS Corporation civilian contractors at Hick-am Air Force Base, Nov. 1, 2010. The aircraft were later flown to Wheeler Army Airfield.
Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. | 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
Sgt. Karl Williams | 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
Staff Sgt. Mike Alberts | 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
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After assaulting an objective, Soldiers from A Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regi-ment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, (foreground) pull security at a landing zone for UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters (background) from 2nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, at East Range, near Wheeler Army Airfield, Nov. 30, 2010.
Sgt. Karl Williams | 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
Specialist Daniel Pangelinan, an Aircraft Structural Repairer, assigned to 2nd Squad-ron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), conducts hearing tests for first and second graders at Mililani Mauka Elementary School, in Mililani, Hawaii, Jan. 19.
