PODGORICA, Montenegro (Army News Service, Feb. 24, 2012) -- Two Army UH-60A Black Hawks, one designated a lift helicopter, the other a medical evacuation aircraft from the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, arrived in this snow-inundated area to provide much-needed supplies and medical support to the local community after relentless blizzard-like conditions shut the area down.
In response to the Montenegrin government's request for NATO humanitarian and disaster assistance, the Army deployed the two helicopters and a crew of 40 Soldiers to the country to support efforts in delivering critical supplies and rescue services including medical evacuation support to those stranded in the areas most heavily hit by the snowfall.
Arriving Feb. 19, the helicopters and crew came from the 1-214th Aviation Battalion of the 12th CAB, the largest aviation brigade in the U.S. Army, headquartered in Katterbach, Germany. The brigade conducts missions in a variety of locations. Also supporting the mission in a command and control function, are members of the 361st Civil Affairs, part of the 7th Civil Support Command out of Kaiserslautern Germany.
Deployment of the U.S. aircraft follows the helicopter support provided earlier by other NATO allies -- Greece, Slovenia and Croatia -- to assist Montenegro in responding to the worst winter weather in decades. Record snowfalls in Montenegro have left tens of thousands in the country's mountainous north cut off and unable to receive supplies of food and fuel or medical assistance.
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