Fort Drum— Approximately, 2,200 soldiers of the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division will deploy this Spring.
The Department of Defense today identified the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, as one of three major units to deploy as part of the upcoming rotation of forces operating in Afghanistan.
The 10th Combat Aviation Brigade in the 10th Mountain Division (LI) has been given the mission to deploy to Afghanistan and provide aviation support.
“The 10th CAB has anticipated a mission to Afghanistan and has aggressively trained at all levels,” said COL David J. Francis, the commander 10th Combat Aviation Brigade. “We are prepared and ready for this deployment."
The brigade’s aviation assets include UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters used primarily for transport of passengers and supplies, HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters used for medical evacuation, CH-47 Chinook helicopters for heavy lift and passenger transport, AH-64 Apache helicopters for close air support, and OH-58 Kiowa helicopters for reconnaissance.
In addition, the brigade includes assets for air and ground maintenance, air traffic control, aircraft and personnel recovery, intelligence, logistics, communication, medical, personnel administration, food service and operations.
This is the 10th CAB’s fourth deployment to Afghanistan. Previous deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom include 2003, 2006, and 2010. The unit deployed to Iraq in 2008 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom VIII.
It is projected that the Aviation team will be deployed for 9 months, the same as 1st and 2nd Brigade Combat teams, which deployed this past mid-January.
