Wisconsin National Guard aviators earn national honors

Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office

A Wisconsin Army National Guard unit currently deployed in Iraq has been named the best aviation unit in the Army National Guard.  The Madison-based 1st Battalion, 147th Aviation Regiment - a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter unit that includes Soldiers in Michigan and Indiana - will receive the 2010 Army Aviation Association of America's John J. Stanko award at next month's AAAA Annual Professional Forum and Exposition in Nashville. This is the first such award for a Wisconsin National Guard helicopter unit.

Lt. Col. Marty Pond, battalion commander, described the award as a great honor.

"It is a reflection of our Soldiers and their families," he said, "[and their] commitment to our nation, our mission and overall excellence in performance."

"We are extremely proud of the leaders and Soldiers of the 147th Aviation Battalion in receiving this award," he said. "It is a recognition of the professionalism and dedication of the entire team."

The award is presented to the Army National Guard aviation unit that has made an outstanding contribution or innovation to the field of Army aviation above and beyond the normal assigned mission.

However, the nature of the 147th's current mission in Iraq is itself outside of normal parameters. Operating with aviation units from Colorado and Kansas as Task Force Ironhawk, the 147th covers all of the United States Division-South - including six bases - performing the highest number of missions of any battalion supporting the 1st Enhanced Combat Aviation Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division (the Big Red One). During a four-month span, the 147th flew 1,986 missions totaling more than 15,000 combat hours without accidents. Three of the aviation battalion companies moved more than 5,600 passengers and 660,000 pounds of cargo in that time frame, while a fourth provides round-the-clock medical evacuation coverage at four locations, conducting 102 missions and transporting 109 patients.

On the ground, aircraft from three units across six bases have been integrated into one maintenance program, with an airframe readiness rate greater than 85 percent. Battalion mechanics have provided expert instruction on the UH-60M to contractors and aviation intermediate maintenance units. Roughly one-third of Company E's Soldiers cross-trained to learn refueling operations, and improved the process so that one refueling point can serve six Black Hawks. Company E dispensed nearly 900,000 gallons of fuel with no environmental mishaps.

Pond said Task Force Ironhawk easily distinguished its leadership in implementing the Black Hawk "Mike" model into the total combat force with the exceptionally high operation tempo.

"Remember, this only accounts for the first four months," he said. "[Things] have not slowed down in any way since."

Prior to deploying, the 147th tackled another daunting task - transforming into the first Army National Guard air assault helicopter battalion, which involved intensive training and fielding new equipment. Flight instructors with the 147th also trained helicopter pilots from numerous other Guard and active Army aviation units, resulting in 25 qualified pilots and eight instructor pilots.

In addition, warrant officers in the 147th from Wisconsin and Michigan formed a communications security team to train up on the new communications system for the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter. The process they developed became the standard used by the Army.

"Every day they prove themselves with seamless and tireless support," Pond said of the Soldiers of Task Force Ironhawk. "These Soldiers have a well-deserved reputation for excellence."

The 147th reported for active duty last June 17 for their third Middle East deployment. A portion of the battalion first deployed to Iraq in March 2003. The unit also deployed to Kuwait from July 2001 to August 2002 in support of Operation Desert Spring. A portion of the 147th also deployed in support of Task Force Eagle, the NATO peacekeeping operation in Kosovo, in July 2006 for a one-year mission.

The 147th has played an important role in stateside responses, such as the historic mobilization of National Guard units across the country to respond to Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf coast, and the Wisconsin floods of 2008. In 1998 the 147th deployed to Guatemala for several months following Hurricane Mitch.