ZEEBRUGGE, BELGIUM - Soldiers with 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, from Fort Riley, Kansas, assembled approximately 85 aircraft upon their arrival at the Port of Zeebrugge, Jan. 29-Feb. 3, 2019.
The 1st Combat Aviation Brigade's deployment marks the fourth rotation of a U.S. aviation brigade presence in Europe in support of Atlantic Resolve.
"Our combat aviation brigade is going to be postured to move and ready to fight during the next two weeks as we move forward out," said Lt. Col. John Tiedeman, battalion commander, 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st CAB. "We have forces going to Germany, Poland, Latvia, Romania and Bulgaria."
The Belgian Navy played a large role in providing security at the port while the helicopters arrived and U.S. Soldiers assembled and prepared the aircraft for their next destination.
"When we have host nation support activities, we provide logistics and security to friendly forces that come in through the Belgian territory," said Frigate Capt. Philippe De Cock, the Belgian Navy commander of Province of West Flanders. "We coordinate with civilian partners to accommodate 1st CAB to get their [aircraft] ready to fly."
Soldiers with 838th Transportation Battalion, 598th Transportation Brigade, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, also assisted with the transportation of equipment from the U.S. to the port.
There are approximately 85 helicopters and about 50 pieces of equipment that they will transport throughout eastern European locations, said Lt. Col. John Thyng, the battalion commander of 838th Transportation Battalion.
1st CAB is expected to move to their forward locations from the port in the next few days with the support of Belgian forces and SDDC.
"It's a pleasure to be working with our Belgian counterparts and we expect a great operation," said Thyng.
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