Aviation battalion welcomes new commander

By Kerstin Lopez (Fort Carson)May 5, 2011

Aviation battalion welcomes new commander
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FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, bid farewell to one comA,Amander as they welcomed in another Monday.

Lt. Col. David Moga assumed command of the 1st Bn., 2nd Avn. Reg. replacing Lt. Col. Michael Hosie during a change-of-command ceremony at Manhart Field.

The battalion is composed of more than 20 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters designed to provide warfighters a stable aerial weapons-delivery platform.

"Supporting the warfighters on the ground is our No. 1 task and the integration of attack aviation with ground forces is key to the success and survival of our most valuable assets - our Soldiers," said Col. Frank Tate, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade commander.

Tate said the change of command was bittersweet. Though the battalion was saying farewell to a part of its "Gunfighter" family, it was also gaining a new member.

"To the Soldiers on the field, I assure you that Lt. Col. Dave Moga is exactly the leader the Gunfighters need as you continue to prepare for deployment in combat operations in southern Afghanistan early next year," Tate said.

Moga said the aviation battalion is a valuable training partner for many units at Fort Carson and the more than 500 Soldiers contribute a great deal to the training experience.

"The brave infantrymen in the 4th Infantry Division look across this field and they see a valuable training partner," Moga said. "I see 543 disciplined Soldiers perfectly working as a team to accomplish any mission that they are handed."

Hosie said his two-year experience with the aviation battalion was the best of his career.

"These past two years have been by far the most rewarding of my Army career," Hosie said. "This unit is full of phenomenal Soldiers who are ready to deploy. I am very proud of them."

Hosie is headed to Afghanistan where he'll serve as the deputy commander for the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division.

"I look forward to the next challenge," Hosie said.