NUREMBERG, Germany--About 250 Soldiers of the 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade, "Iron Eagles," from Fort Bliss, Texas, arrived here, April 26, at Albrecht Dürer Airport.
The Soldiers from 1AD CAB are in USAREUR as an augmentation or surge force to further enable 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, based in Ansbach, Germany, during Anakonda 16. Exercise Anakonda 2016 is a Polish national exercise that seeks to train, exercise and integrate Polish national command and force structures into an allied, joint, multinational environment.
The surge force is comprised of ten UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters from Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment, key personnel from the brigade headquarters and elements of the 127th Aviation Support Battalion.
The surge Soldiers from 1AD CAB help strengthen USAREUR's reception, staging, onward movement and integration process (RSOI) and ensure the U.S. Army's ability to rapidly project combat power throughout Europe.
"As a support battalion, we're here to support aviation forces with communications, ground support, distribution and aviation maintenance," said Maj. Hans J. Thomas, detachment officer in charge, 127th ASB, 1AD CAB. "Our job is to augment where needed for Anakonda 16."
Support Soldiers from the 127th ASB will remain in Europe for 90 days. Aviation support battalions are the logistical lifeblood of a combat aviation brigade providing fuel, ammunition and transportation support.
Charlie Company, 3rd Bn., 501st Avn. Regt., and their ten UH-60M Black Hawk's will participate in Anakonda 16 and remain in Europe for six additional months to join the remainder of 3rd Bn., 501st Avn. Regt., 1AD CAB. This is part of a regularly scheduled rotation of aviation forces which will replace 3rd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, the current rotational aviation force assigned to USAREUR.
"Our Soldiers are excited to be here," said Command Sgt. Maj. Gloria J. Cain, Command Sergeant Major, 127th ASB, 1AD CAB. "We're really looking forward to the challenge."
The unit will initially operate out of Storck Barracks, Illesheim, Germany. The majority of the Soldiers and their helicopters will then deploy to participate in Operation Atlantic Resolve training exercises taking place in several NATO and partner countries throughout Europe.
This surge rotation is consistent with the Army's Regionally Allocated Forces concept, aligning units to support theater requirements. Regional alignment is also synchronized with the Army's new operational concept of winning in a complex world.
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