Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (United States)

10th Combat Aviation Brigade
10th Mountain Division shoulder sleeve insignia
Active	2 July 1988—Present
Country	United States of America
Allegiance	United States Army
Branch	United States Army Aviation Branch
Type	Combat aviation brigade
Role	aviation
Size	brigade
Part of	10th Mountain Division
Garrison/HQ	Fort Drum, New York
Engagements	Afghanistan Campaign Iraq Campaign

The 10th Mountain Division Combat Aviation Brigade is a combat aviation brigade of the United States Army based at Fort Drum, New York. It is a subordinate unit of the 10th Mountain Division.

Activated in 1988, the 10th Mountain Division's Combat Aviation Brigade supported the division as it undertook numerous operations and overseas contingencies in the 1990s, including Operation Restore Hope, Operation Uphold Democracy, and Task Force Eagle, as well as disaster relief following Hurricane Andrew. The brigade has since become involved in the War on Terrorism, seeing two deployments to Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom and a deployment to Iraq to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. The brigade is currently serving a third tour in Afghanistan, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Organization

The Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division comprises five principal battalions under the command of its Headquarters and Headquarters Company.^[1] The brigade commands 1st, 2nd, 3rd Battalions, 10th Aviation Regiment, and 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, which operate a number of aircraft including UH-60 Black Hawks, AH-64 Apaches, CH-47 Chinooks, and OH-58 Kiowas. In addition, the 277th Aviation Support Battalion provides supporting services to the combat battalions when they are deployed, making the brigade capable of operating independently of higher command headquarters, and capable of taking on additional battalions and other, smaller units when deployed, as necessary.^[1]

History

On 13 February 1985, the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) was reactivated at Fort Drum, New York.^[2] In accordance with the Reorganization Objective Army Divisions plan, the division was no longer centered around regiments, instead two infantry brigades were activated under the division. The division was also assigned a round-out brigade from the Army National Guard, the 27th Infantry Brigade.^[3]

In 1990, the division sent 1,200 soldiers to support Operation Desert Storm. The largest of these units was the 548th Supply and Services Battalion with almost 1,000 soldiers, which supported the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) in Iraq. Following a cease-fire in March 1991, the support soldiers began redeploying to Fort Drum through June of that year.^[4]

The division assumed responsibility for Hurricane Andrew disaster relief as Task Force Mountain in 1992,^[4] and formed the bulk of the U.S. Army forces deployed for Operation Restore Hope in Somalia in 1993–1994.

Operation Uphold Democracy

Soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division secure Port-au-Prince International Airport in 1994.

The division formed the nucleus of the Multinational Force Haiti (MNF Haiti) and Joint Task Force 190 (JTF 190) in Haiti during Operation Uphold Democracy. More than 8,600 of the division's troops deployed during this operation.^[5] On 19 September 1994, the 1st Brigade conducted the Army’s first air assault from an aircraft carrier. This force consisted of 54 helicopters and almost 2,000 soldiers. They occupied the Port-au-Prince International Airport. This was the largest Army air operation conducted from a carrier since the Doolittle Raid in World War II.^[4]

The division’s mission was to create a secure and stable environment so the government of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide could be reestablished and democratic elections held. After this was accomplished, the 10th Mountain Division handed over control of the MNF-Haiti to the 25th Infantry Division on 15 January 1995. The Division redeployed the last of its soldiers who served in Haiti by 31 January 1995.^[5]

Task Force Eagle

In the fall of 1998, the division received notice that it would be serving as senior headquarters of Task Force Eagle, providing a peacekeeping force to support the ongoing operation within the Multi-National Division-North area of responsibility in Bosnia and Herzegovina.^[5] Selected division units began deploying in late summer, approximately 3,000 division soldiers deployed. After successfully performing their mission in Bosnia, the division units conducted a Transfer of Authority, relinquishing their assignments to soldiers of the 49th Armored Division, Texas National Guard. By early summer 2000, all 10th Mountain Division soldiers had returned safely to Fort Drum.^[5]

Afghanistan Deployments

UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters of the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade are loaded into a ship in preparation for a 2008 deployment to Iraq.

In 2003 and into 2004, the brigade deployed for the first time to Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom. As the only aviation brigade in the theater, the brigade provided air support for all US Army units operating in the country. The brigade's mission at that time focused on close air support, medevac missions, and other duties involving combat with Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces in the country. The brigade returned to Fort Drum in 2004.^[6]

In of winter 2006 the 10th Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, was deployed again to Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom as the only aviation brigade in the theater, stationed at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. Named "Task Force Falcon," the brigade's mission was to conduct aviation operations to destroy insurgents and anti-coalition militia in an effort to help build the Afghan National Security Force's capability and allow the Afghan government to increase its capabilities. In addition, the Task Force provided logistical and aviation support for ISAF forces throughout the country, conducted tactical maneuvers and performed security and attack operations when needed.^[7]

Soldiers of the brigade inspect a downed UAV.

Prior to the transformation of the brigade as part of the entire transition of the 10th Mountain Division to the US Army's new modular force structure, the 10th Aviation Brigade consisted of a Headquarters Company, 10th Aviation Brigade; 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment (formerly 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment), 2nd Battalion (Assault), 10th Aviation Regiment (formerly 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment); 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation (General Support), and C Company (Aviation Intermediate Maintenance), 10th Aviation Regiment.^[7]

After the transformation, the reorganized 10th Combat Aviation Brigade retained the 3–17th Cavalry and 1- and 2–10th Aviation. 3–10th Aviation and C-10th Aviation were inactivated. Also reactivated as part of the reorganized unit were 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment and the 277th Aviation Support Battalion. During the transition elements of the 10th Aviation continued to be deployed as part of Task Forces part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, with units returning to Fort Drum for reorganization after their tours were complete. Elements of the 10th Aviation Brigade were deployed to Iraq in 2008 as part of continued operations in that country.^[7]

Honors

The brigade has been awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for service in Iraq, 2003–2004, and three campaign streamers: Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan, 2003—2004, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan, 2006—2007, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq, 2008—2009.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "10th Mountain Division Organization". Fort Drum Public Affairs Office. Archived from the original on 1 August 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080801184839/http://www.drum.army.mil/sites/tenants/. Retrieved 7 July 2009. 
2. ^ "Lineage and Honors Information: 10th Mountain Division". United States Army Center of Military History. http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/div/010mdhq&tcp.htm. Retrieved 6 July 2009. 
3. ^ McGrath, p. 232.
4. ^ ^{a b c} "GlobalSecurity.org: 10th Mountain Division". GlobalSecurity. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/10mtn.htm. Retrieved 6 July 2009. 
5. ^ ^{a b c d} "Fort Drum Homepage: History of the 10th Mountain Division". Fort Drum Public Affairs Office. Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080512010021/http://www.drum.army.mil/sites/about/hist-10mtn.asp. Retrieved 6 July 2009. 
6. ^ "10th Combat Aviation Brigade Assumes OEF Aviation Mission". Defenselink.mil. http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=14816. Retrieved 19 July 2009. 
7. ^ ^{a b c} "GlobalSecurity.org: 10th Combat Aviation Brigade". GlobalSecurity. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/10mtn-avn-bde.htm. Retrieved 18 July 2009.