The Combat Aviation Brigade

Combat Aviation Brigade

A Combat Aviation Brigade is a multi-functional brigade-sized unit in the United States Army that fields military helicopters, offering a combination of attack helicopters , reconnaissance helicopters , medium-lift helicopters , heavy-lift helicopters , and MEDEVAC capability.- History :Combat...

, 28th Infantry Division is a heavy aviation unit of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard

Pennsylvania Army National Guard

The Pennsylvania Army National Guard, abbreviated PAARNG, is part of the United States Army National Guard and is based in the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania...

. The Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) is one of five brigades of the 28th Infantry Division. It provides provides aviation assets for both federal and state active duty missions. The aviators of the CAB fly the AH-64D Apache, UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook

CH-47 Chinook

The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Its top speed of 170 knots is faster than contemporary utility and attack helicopters of the 1960s...

 helicopters. The CAB headquarters is at Fort Indiantown Gap

Fort Indiantown Gap

Fort Indiantown Gap, also referred to as "The Gap" or "FIG", is a census-designated place and U.S. Army post primarily located in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. A portion of the installation is located in eastern Dauphin County...

, located north of Harrisburg

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...

, Pennsylvania.

The brigade is composed of the following additional units:

• Headquarters and Headquarters Company
• 1st Battalion, 104th Aviation Regiment (Attack) (PA NG)
• 1st Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment (Attack)
• 1st Battalion, 150th Aviation Regiment
  1st Battalion, 150th Aviation (United States)
  The 1st Battalion, 150th Aviation Regiment is an Assault Helicopter Battalion that was split between two mid-atlantic states with a total of 16 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. One half of the unit was the Headquarters & Headquarters Company , Alpha Company, and Charlie Company based at Trenton, New...
  
   (Assault) (NJ NG)
• 2nd Battalion, 104th Aviation Regiment (General Support)
• 628th Support Battalion (Aviation)

Iraq deployment

Soldiers of the CAB, 28th Infantry Division began mobilization on 29 January 2009 for Operation Iraqi Freedom 09-11. Over 2,000 soldiers from multiple states completed validation training at Fort Sill

Fort Sill

Fort Sill is a United States Army post near Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.Today, Fort Sill remains the only active Army installation of all the forts on the South Plains built during the Indian Wars...

, Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...

 before moving to Camp Buehring

Camp Buehring

Camp Buehring is a staging post for US troops in the northwestern region of Kuwait. The base is used for military troops heading north into Iraq as well as the primary location for the Middle Eastern Theater Reserve...

, Kuwait. Throughout the opening days of May 2009, soldiers flew into multiple Forward Operating Base

Forward Operating Base

A forward operating base is any secured forward military position, commonly a military base, that is used to support tactical operations. A FOB may or may not contain an airfield, hospital, or other facilities. The base may be used for an extended period of time. FOBs are traditionally supported...

s across Iraq with the majority of the brigade based out of Tallil

Ali Air Base

Ali Air Base is a military airbase located near Nasiriyah, Iraq. It is also known as Tallil Air Base. At present, the base is being used by United States Armed Forces. It is called Camp Adder by the U.S. Army; the name "Ali Air Base" is used chiefly by the U.S...

, Al Kut, and Basrah.

CAB – OIF Composition

• HQ CAB
  • 2nd Battalion (General Support), 104th Aviation Regiment
    • Company A (Assault), 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment
    • Company B (Heavy Lift), 2d Battalion, 104th Aviation Regiment
    • Company C (Attack), 3d Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment
      12th Combat Aviation Brigade (United States)
      The 12th Combat Aviation Brigade is a Combat Aviation Brigade of the United States Army. It was first organized as the 12th Aviation Group at Fort Benning, Georgia, on 18 June 1965.-Vietnam:...
      
      ***
    • Company C (Medical Evacuation), 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment
    • Company D (Maintenance), 2d Battalion, 104th Aviation Regiment
    • Company E (Supply), 2nd Battalion, 104th Aviation Regiment
  • 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation Regiment (Montana National Guard)
  • 1st Battalion (Assault Helicopter), 150th Aviation Regiment
  • 1st Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment
  • 628th Support Battalion (Aviation)

(*** Co C, 3d Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment is a Regular Army unit that was OPCON to the 2d Battalion (General Support), 104th Aviation Regiment during OIF 08-10. They are currently task organized as a part of 12th Combat Aviation Brigade

12th Combat Aviation Brigade (United States)

The 12th Combat Aviation Brigade is a Combat Aviation Brigade of the United States Army. It was first organized as the 12th Aviation Group at Fort Benning, Georgia, on 18 June 1965.-Vietnam:...

, stationed in Germany.)