Aviation Unit Returns From Annual
Training In Germany
WEST TRENTON, NJ - Bravo Company
of the 126th Aviation Battalion, located at the Army Aviation Support Facility
#2 at Picatinny, returned from the Combat Maneuver Training Center at Hohenfels,
Germany last night, Tuesday, Oct. 22.
Twenty New Jersey Army National Guardsmen, including
pilots, maintenance, operations, and refueling personnel, as well as one
supply person, deployed to the Center Oct. 1 as part of their annual training.
The Center, which is operated by the United States Army 7th Army Training
Command, trains soldiers for contingency operations in the Balkans and
Northern Africa.
“This was the first time a New Jersey Army National Guard
aviation unit deployed outside the United States in support of this type
of training mission,” stated Lt. Col. Jorge Martinez, Battalion Commander,
119th Corps Support Battalion.
When Bravo Company arrived they immediately replaced
the Center’s OPposing FORces (OPFOR [the people who play the bad guys in
battlefield scenarios]) team, which had deployed to Poland to support another
operation. “Basically they ran the whole flying operation during
their time there.” noted Maj. John Scannell, Facility Commander, AASF #2.
The Jersey Guardsmen performed flight operations and flight maintenance
on UH-1 Huey helicopters, which are used for OPFOR operations and flying
observer-controller teams at the training center.
The Jersey Guard aviation unit was so successful that
the Center Commander wants them back. Case in point, Pfc. Steven
Molina, an aircraft refueler, was identified by the Center cadre as being
one of the best aircraft refuelers that had served at the Center.
“This simply just goes to prove that our people
are ready, anytime, anywhere to perform their federal mission,” observed
Lt. Col. Martinez. |
