Cavalry Unit Rules the Sky: Hits 20,000 Flight Hours in Iraq

Multi-National Force - Iraq ^ | 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs

[SandRat]

CAMP STRIKER — An air cavalry unit in Iraq has found itself ringing in the New Year by flying to a remarkable milestone.

The 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment’s Kiowa Warrior helicopters have collectively flown over 20,000 flight hours since arriving here in May, 2007.

The squadron is on pace to fly nearly 40,000 hours during their 15-month deployment and have managed to maintain a readiness rate of nearly 92 percent fully mission capable, said Chief Warrant Officer Mike Cavaco, production control officer, 3-17th Cav. Regt.

The Kiowa Warrior, a two-seat scout helicopter based on an airframe that dates to the Vietnam War, has gone through a multitude of changes over the years. From a simple largely-unarmed scout helicopter it has been transformed into a scout platform able to fire Hellfire missiles, rockets and machine guns.

The 3-17th Cav. Regt., from the 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, N.Y., is currently attached to the Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), 3rd Infantry Division. Their flight hours have been spent in combat south of Baghdad, supporting Multi-National Division - Center where they have been used extensively supporting ground troops and their Iraqi security forces counterparts, said Lt. Co. Robert Wilson, executive officer, 3rd CAB.

The consensus among leaders at the 3rd CAB and 3-17th Cav. Regt. is that people are the most important factor in allowing the unit to reach this achievement.

“Each and every one of those hours was made possible by the incredible team work both in 3-17 and the CAB, including Soldiers and civilians,” Wilson said.

“The 20,000 hours is a testament to the crew chiefs and Soldiers working on the airframes,” affirmed Chief Warrant Officer Adam Duszak, aviation maintenance officer, 3-17th Cav. Regt.

“We have a very high tempo and a lot of missions out there, and everybody’s working their hearts out to make this happen,” Duszak said.

Wilson explained that the importance of the Kiowa Warriors on the battlefield could be summed up in the service they provide.

“The missions made up of this incredible number of hours provided the security for the Iraqi people to take back their own land and hopefully their own destiny,” Wilson said.

[SandRat]

BAGHDAD – Members of the 18th Military Police Brigade and the Al Kut Iraqi Police conducted joint checkpoint operations Jan. 5 to help deter crime in the Wasit province.

BALAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained a known extremist cell leader and three additional suspected extremists Jan. 7 in the Zafaraniyah and Diyala areas of Baghdad.

Press Releases

• UAV, Apaches tag team to take out IED emplacers Yusufiyah
• Operation Marne Thunderbolt clears al-Qaeda from southeast Baghdad
• Iraqi Army finds bomb making facility outside Baghdad (Al Baytara, Abu Ghraib)
• MND-North Soldiers kill 4 extremists, destroy HBIED with air strikes (Khan Bani Sa’ad)
• MND-N Soldiers attacked by HBIED (Diyala)
• MND-N Soldiers attacked by HBIED (Diyala)

[SandRat]

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[FARS]

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[Eagles6]

Thanks. Good post.

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[AGreatPer]

“The missions made up of this incredible number of hours provided the security for the Iraqi people to take back their own land and hopefully their own destiny,” Wilson said.

Our guys/gals are working the bunzies off trying to support the people. God Bless Them.

________________________________________________

38 days until spring training. I thank the military for letting me do that.

[MEG33]

God bless our warriors..Good news, good hunting.

[wingsof liberty]

Prayers for these warriors

[SunkenCiv]

The 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment’s Kiowa Warrior helicopters have collectively flown over 20,000 flight hours since arriving here in May, 2007. The squadron is on pace to fly nearly 40,000 hours during their 15-month deployment and have managed to maintain a readiness rate of nearly 92 percent fully mission capable, said Chief Warrant Officer Mike Cavaco, production control officer, 3-17th Cav. Regt.

Thanks FARS.