10th Combat Aviation Brigade commander prepares for assignment in Washington

By Capt. Linda Gerron (10th Mountain)June 23, 2016

Col. Michael C. McCurry
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- After 26 months of command, Col. Michael C. McCurry, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade commander, and his Family are making final preparations for the next chapter in their lives, when the Army will take them to Washington, D.C., as he becomes the chief of Aviation Force Development in the Army G8.

For some, two years might seem like a short time, but to McCurry and the rest of the Falcon Family, two years is like a compressed historical book filled with missions, operations and accomplishments collected as a whole.

Rather than a single-most memorable moment during his command, "It's a series of memorable moments," McCurry said with a heartfelt smile.

"Seeing the added confidence and competence of each task force that we send to the (combat training center) rotations as they emerge through the end and seeing the pride of Family Members as our units redeploy, those are probably the most memorable moments."

During McCurry's tenure, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade supported deployments to Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Inherent Resolve / Spartan Shield, the Republic of Korea, and multiple CTC rotations.

The brigade also provided direct support for the Global and Special Operations Command Response Force missions, and other countless training events in support of the XVIII Airborne Corps and the 10th Mountain Division (LI).

As McCurry recounted the brigade's endeavors, he made it clear that being a part of the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade is all about being a team player and going the extra mile for not only outside Army units, but most importantly, its Fort Drum sister brigades.

"I pledged to my brother commanders that if they were hurt on the battlefield, we were going to come. If they needed extra fire power, we were going to be there. If they needed us to come move them in a position of relative advantage, we were going to do it," McCurry said.

"I wanted to make sure that we always upheld our sacred trust between aviators and our Mountaineers on the ground," he added. "And I think that our Falcon Soldiers upheld that trust throughout the 26 months of command."

Earlier this year, the Department of the Army recognized 10th Combat Aviation Brigade as the winner of the Order of Daedalians' Brig. Gen. Carl I. Hutton Memorial Award.

Dating back to 1978, the prestigious award is given to a single Army aviation unit each calendar year for its professionalism and immense contribution to the advancement of flight safety in Army Aviation.

"Safety is a big part of maintaining aviation readiness," McCurry said. "We're constantly alert, we scan our environment for potential threats, (we) see problems before they happen, and we intervene."

Furthermore, McCurry oversaw the brigade's execution of the Army's Aviation Restructuring Initiative, a direct result of the continuing evolution of the national military strategy, the Army operating concept, and the changing environment in which the United States will have to conduct its global mission in the future.

Using the knowledge he gained from his previous assignment, he planned for the realignment of the 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment into a heavy armed reconnaissance squadron.

Despite having a lot to be proud of, McCurry said he owes his success and the success of the brigade to the Falcons and their Families.

"The Army is a team sport and a people business. You can't do it by yourself," he said. "Military Families, they are equally dedicated. They are equally, if not more, patriotic and sacrifice more even than the green-suiters by sharing their Soldiers with the Army to do the mission."

McCurry said he and his wife, Sadie, are finding it hard to say goodbye to those who made Fort Drum -- despite reaching negative temperatures at times -- the warmest place in the Army, but they are ready for the next challenge the Army has in store for them.

"Thank you to my brother and sister commanders out there, on the left and the right, and to all the subordinates, and to our North Country communities that always support us, every day, without fail," McCurry said. "We always know that the people of the North County are in our corner no matter what comes."