Brigade heads to Fort Sill to mobilize Reserve unit

The 166th Aviation Brigade completed the mobilization of Task Force 34, a Minnesota National Guard command, in August at Fort Sill Okla., with elements from 10 states.

The Soldiers of the 166th Avn. Bde. provided observer controller/trainers, unit mobilization assistants, aviation expertise, and ground and medical support during the three-month mobilization. Col. Paul J. Ambrose, 166th Avn. Bde. commander, also served as the final validation authority over elements of Task Force 34.

In addition to day-to-day OC/T operations, 166th Soldiers helped execute several training and gunnery exercises designed to prepare Task Force 34 for deployment.

The Air Warrior Lane Training Exercise was created from scratch by the 166th Avn. Bde. to prepare aviators for the worst possible scenario – escaping to safety from a downed aircraft by evading enemy contact, seeking the help of civilians on the battlefield and commanding a convoy back to a secure environment.

The culminating event of the mobilization, the mission readiness exercise, tested Task Force 34's ability to complete its real-world mission in combat. Elements of TF34 were evaluated to standards according to its Army Training and Evaluation Program publication.

The hard work, mentorship and experience – aviation and otherwise – of 166th Soldiers ensured TF34 is prepared for its deployment.

Having completed the mobilization effort, 166th Soldiers are settling back in at Fort Riley.

However, the homecoming will be short-lived as the brigade already is in the mobilization planning stage for the 28th Combat Aviation Brigade, a Pennsylvania National Guard unit, which will kick off with another Fort Sill rotation for 166th Avn. Bde. Soldiers beginning in October.

By Sgt. Aaron Gott
166th Aviation Brigade
The Fort Riley Post Article ( ID 1796 )
3-383rd TSBn, 166th Avn. Bde.

Soldiers of the 834th Aviation Support Battalion, 34th Combat Aviation Brigade refuel a UH-60 Black Hawk at a forward arming and refueling point during the brigade's mission readiness exercise.