Aviation battalion deploys to National Training Center
By Sgt. Stephanie van Geete, 10th CAB PAO
Jan 10, 2008 - 1:18:10 PM
Blackanthem Military News
FORT DRUM, N.Y. - The 2nd Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade deployed today to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., to conduct pre-combat training operations.
While there, the UH-60 Blackhawk unit will support the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, of Fort Riley, Kan.
The month-long mission is designed to provide realistic combat training scenarios not available on most military installations.
"The purpose of this training is rehearsal for deployment," said 1st Lt. Shaun Gaul, 2-10 Avn. Assistant operations officer. "Everyone will get to practice their job in a more realistic environment. We'll do air-assault operations, air-movements, sling-loads and aerial gunnery."
The current training mission is the latest in an ongoing schedule of pre-deployment readiness and certification. Although the unit deployed to Fort Hood, Texas, in October for a similar exercise, Gaul said this mission "is on a much larger scale."
"We're looking forward to it - it's going to be a great experience for everyone," he said.