10th Combat Aviation Brigade bids farewell to Kiowa

By Capt. Peter Smedberg, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade PAOJuly 31, 2015

10th Combat Aviation Brigade bids farewell to Kiowa
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10th Combat Aviation Brigade bids farewell to Kiowa
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10th Combat Aviation Brigade bids farewell to Kiowa
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FORT DRUM, N.Y. (July 30, 2015) -- The skies over New York's North Country had a solemn feel as the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade's 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, conducted its final OH-58D Kiowa Warrior flight over Fort Drum and the surrounding communities, July 28.

The mass formation flight of 30 aircraft marks the end of an era as the aging but reliable OH-58D Kiowa is scheduled to leave Fort Drum in the coming weeks.

The retirement of the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior aircraft is a direct result of the continuing evolution of the national military strategy and the changing environment in which the United States will have to conduct its global mission in the future.

The aircraft and support equipment specific to the aircraft will be transported to a centralized processing location on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, later this summer.

Col. Michael C. McCurry, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade commander, was one of the first 10th Mountain Division (LI) aviators to fly the Kiowa Warrior as the aircraft was being fielded in the division in 1994.

"The Army is continually in transition," he said. "We are constantly improving ourselves, whether it be in training or equipping."

McCurry, who piloted the lead aircraft in Tuesday's final Kiowa Warrior flight, has seen the aircraft's mission in the 10th Mountain Division come full circle.

"I feel pretty blessed to have been in the first flight of Kiowa that landed here in 1994, and now as the brigade commander, I get to see them off and fly with these great cavalry pilots on their last mission before we turn the aircraft in," he said.

Although the equipment is changing, the spirit, determination and esprit de corps among 6-6 Cavalry troopers remains constant.

"Today was a special occasion for all of us," said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Thomas Montijo, 6-6 Cavalry standardization instructor pilot. "We have all served alongside cavalrymen that are no longer with us; this final flight allows us to honor their memory."

Before returning to Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield for the last time, a flight of six Kiowa Warriors made one final pass over Memorial Park and 10th Mountain Division headquarters in the "Missing Man formation" to honor all of the air cavalry troopers, who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

"It's whirlwind of emotion right now," McCurry said. "I have tremendous pride in everything that these Soldiers have done and the Soldiers that we've lost."

The divestment of the Kiowa Warrior will not mark an end to the 6-6 Cavalry Regiment's mission. The squadron will be fielded AH-64 Apache helicopters and Shadow unmanned aerial vehicles to continue to accomplish the aerial scout mission.

"The first thing I tell people is 'we're not getting rid of scouts,'" McCurry said. "I expect you to still be a scout whether you're riding a horse, driving a Bradley [Fighting Vehicle], flying a Kiowa Warrior, an Apache or an unmanned aerial system. I still expect you to apply the fundamentals of reconnaissance and security and be a scout."

Related Links:

Army.mil: North America News

10th Aviation Brigade

Fort Drum