DoD announces stationing of two Combat Aviation Brigades

We a future desire to become an Army Aviator I found this very interesting and informative for future use. The Department of Defense announced the stationing of two Army Combat Aviation Brigades. The 16th Combat Aviation Brigade will be split-based and established at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and Fort Wainwright, Alaska, using existing aviation units not currently assigned to a combat aviation brigade. A new Combat Aviation Brigade, or CAB, will be activated at Fort Carson, Colo.

The 16th CAB stationing action realigns existing assets resulting in an increase of approximately 1,400 new Soldiers and 44 helicopters at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. This action for the split-based CAB at Joint Base Lewis-McChord will begin in fiscal year 2012, and is expected to be completed by fiscal year 2014.

The Army recognizes Alaska as a strategic location and will continue to maintain a significant aviation presence there. This stationing increases the invaluable medical evacuation strength in Alaska by three additional aircraft in fiscal year 2013. It also validates the Army's commitment and support to the aviation infrastructure through military construction programmed for replacement and upgrade of the aviation facilities.

The new CAB activation at Fort Carson, Colo., will result in a total growth in Army forces and equipment by approximately 2,700 Soldiers and 113 helicopters. Fort Carson establishes the new brigade beginning fiscal year 2013 and is expected to be completed by fiscal year 2014.

The activation of these brigades will increase the capabilities of the active component of the U.S. Army and increase dwell time for aviation units between deployments in support of overseas contingency operations. These combined force structure actions represent integrated changes that support the Army's transformation requirements.

The Northern Warfare Training Center

The Northern Warfare Training Center (NWTC) at Black Rapids Training Site south of Fort Greely, Alaska, teaches Soldiers to survive, maneuver and fight in the extreme conditions. Although the school is in the frozen north, the skills Soldiers learn here translate readily to places like Afghanistan's rough, mountainous terrain. The NWTC's commandant says training in such extremes make Soldiers more adaptable in all climates. Ever since the Revolutionary War, when the ill equipped and poorly trained Army of General Washington suffered in the cold at Valley Forge, many of our nation's conflicts have involved fighting in mountain terrain, cold weather, or both. The NWTC is responsible for developing and maintaining the U.S. Army's state-of-the-art cold weather and mountain warfare tactics and techniques.The NWTC teaches three basic courses during the harsh Alaska winter months: the Cold Weather Leader's Course, the Cold Weather Orientation Course and Arctic Light Individual Training. The Cold Weather Leader's Course is a two-week course that teaches everything from the basics of learning to stand and move on skis and snowshoes to a full range of arctic survival skills. Leaders must be mentally and physically ready to operate safely and effectively in high altitude and cold weather climates, according to McDonald. Having the confidence in themselves and their equipment in those conditions will give them the advantage they need to fight the enemy. The NWTC is providing techniques, tactics and procedures to enhance today's military in modern war fighting capabilities.




Sgt. Trish McMurphy, U.S. Army Alaska PAO

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