Almost exactly two years after the last soldier from the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade stepped off a plane at Hunter Army Airfield marking the end of a year in Afghanistan the unit will return to that country.
Last week, the Department of Defense announced about 2,500 soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division’s aviation brigade — nicknamed Marne Air — will deploy in early winter for a nine-month tour in southern Afghanistan.
Members of the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade — whose performance during their last tour to Afghanistan earned accolades from the Army aviation community — will both support combat operations in Afghanistan and help train the Afghans’ fledgling aviation program, said Col. Allan Pepin, the brigade’s commander.
Pepin, who took command of the brigade in June 2011, on Wednesday said he’s impressed with the abilities of the soldiers in the unit.
“I’m extremely comfortable and confident in the phenomenal capacity from our lowest soldiers, who every day show up with the Marne spirit,” Pepin said. “They understand the complexities of what we’re going to ask them to do in a tough, harsh environment.
“We have phenomenal crews, many who have deployed with this CAB in the last deployment, so they understand the environment and challenges.”
During that deployment that began in November 2009 — the unit’s first rotation to Afghanistan and fifth total to the Middle East since 2003 — Marne Air soldiers flew about 26,000 missions, including 800 air assaults, and was responsible for about 2,500 enemy casualties. Not a single soldier from the brigade was killed during the tour.
Subsequently, 3rd CAB was named the Aviation Brigade of the Year for 2010 by the Army Aviation Association of America.
The mission
For the upcoming rotation, Marne Air soldiers will support the International Security Assistance Forces Regional Command South that will be headed by Maj. Gen. Robert Abrams, the 3rd ID’s commanding general, who in August will deploy the division’s Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion.
Pepin said his soldiers would fall directly under Abrams’ command and will provide aviation support for ground units and conduct air assault, reconnaissance, and Medevac missions.
“Our purpose is to assist (Regional Command) South and provide an enhanced security for the Afghan people; increase the capacity of our partner, Afghan National Forces and Afghan Uniform Police; and assist in the transition to an Aghan-only operation in the support of the security of the people and the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,” Pepin said.
Specifically, 3rd CAB soldiers will help the Afghan Security Forces — who are in the early stages of building a modern aviation program — learn to prepare for helicopter-based missions, Pepin said.
“Our main effort right now will be helping them assist in their Medevac capacity,” the colonel said. “So, working with their medics to build their medical skills as well as how they plan for Medevac evacuation. We will not be flying in their aircraft, but we’re there to help them in the planning mode.”
Preparing for deployment
Although U.S. troops in Afghanistan will be reduced from about 90,000 to 68,000 by September as officials work to turn combat operations over to the Afghanis in 2013, Pepin said his soldiers understand they are still heading into war.
“Even though we’re going there (to support) the transition plan, up front we have to have the capacity to conduct offensive operations,” he said. “So, clearly my No. 1 priority is to ensure the health and welfare of my soldiers. That’s where training comes in place.”
Already, three of the brigade’s five battalions have trained at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., and the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La. In late July CAB soldiers will train near Fort Bliss, Texas, during the unit’s Falcon Focus training event that will test aircrews’ prowess at operating in various simulated environments designed to be nearly identical to the terrain in ISAF Region Command South.
Ultimately, the brigade will finish preparing locally with support from other 3rd ID units, Pepin said.
His soldiers understand their mission, the colonel said, and are continuing to learn what is expected of them.
“When I talk to the soldiers what I sense from them is the fact that now that there’s a timeline ... they realize that on this deployment there’s increased responsibility that we have to ensure success to allow that transition,” Pepin said. “Having a timeline that’s been established (and) will continue to be modified allows us to have a great, clear focus that we realize, during our nine months there, it is critical that we execute every mission to standard.”