FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- The 4th Combat Aviation Brigade "Iron Eagles" from Fort Hood, Texas, know a lot about preparation.
The unit sent 233 of its more than 3,000 members to Fort Rucker for a weeklong Aviation Training Exercise May 3-7.
"We are currently training to support Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan," Col. Daniel Williams, commander of the 4th CAB, said. "This is our final collective training event before combat."
The training allowed the unit to experience a more realistic combat situation by utilizing flight simulators and the tactical operations center at the Seneff Aviation Warfighting Simulation Center, according to Williams.
"This is great training," he said. "This is where we fine-tune our procedures and get a chance to have commanders make command decisions and staff do actual staff work."
The unit is tentatively scheduled to deploy this summer, according to Williams.
"We're putting the aircraft on the boat in less than a week-and-a-half," he said. "After that, we'll take a little block leave, come back, ruck up and go make history. I'm very proud of all our (Soldiers)."
Several of the unit members were familiar with Fort Rucker prior to last week's ATX. Some, like Capt. Matt Ridge, an AH-64 Apache pilot from Bloomington, Ind., graduated from Flight School XXI in 2006.
"I feel like (FSXXI) really helped to better prepare me for actual combat," he said. "(Fort) Rucker always has the best (equipment for training)."
While Ridge graduated four years ago, he feels the recent graduates are on equal ground to those who came before them.
"They have more experience and are better prepared for the missions," he said.
For most of the members of the unit, the upcoming deployment will not be the first time they've deployed to the Middle East. Sgt. Christian Pardo, an operations noncommissioned officer-in-charge from Puerto Rico, will be experiencing his second deployment when the unit leaves for Afghanistan.
He said he feels better prepared this time, thanks to his past experience and the training he received here.
"I learned a lot from the last deployment," he said. "I don't think it's going to be any easier, but I think I'll be better prepared and have a better understanding of what's going on. The training here is perfect. We don't even have to talk sometimes in certain situations. We know each other well enough to just react."
Both Pardo and Ridge felt they could pass on valuable knowledge to Soldiers who are experiencing their first deployment.
"Spend as much time with your Family as possible before leaving," Ridge said. "It's important to make good memories, especially before a long deployment."
Pardo said it's important for Soldiers to learn as much as they can from their commanders and fellow Soldiers and apply it in the field - if they can do that, they'll be successful.
Spc. Shane Michie, an intelligence analyst from Henderson, Nev., will deploy for the first time this summer and he said he plans to heed the advice of his fellow Soldiers.
"I've learned a lot so far," Michie said. "I think it's helped me to be better prepared for what's next."
Michie said he doesn't feel nervous about the upcoming deployment. Instead, he sees it as an opportunity to learn more about the rest of the world.
"I'm really excited to go," he said. "I think my time here has taught me how to perform my duties more efficiently and I'm ready to see more of the world."
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