Kentucky National Guard Staff Report
[caption id="attachment_28880" align="aligncenter" width="575"]
A Soldier with Det. 4, Charlie Co., 2nd Battalion, 245th Aviation carries his gear to a C-12 Huron prior to departing Frankfort, Ky., March 16, 2018. Members of the unit will travel to Fort Bliss, Texas prior to deploying to the Middle East. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Soldiers with Detachment 4, Company C., 2nd Battalion, 245th Aviation were honored during a departure ceremony in Frankfort, Ky., March 16. Friends and family members joined Kentucky Guard leadership to say farewell to the seven-Soldier unit.
During their deployment to the Middle East, the unit will fly C-12 "Huron" fixed-wing airplanes in support of the Central Command (CENTCOM) Area of Operations and support coalition forces throughout the region.
“This unit may be small but the number of family and friends here today are a testament to what they’ll be contributing overseas," said Lt. Col. Mike Armstrong, 751st Troop Command Battalion Commander. “These are some of the most experienced aviators we’ve ever deployed and will do a fine job representing the Kentucky National Guard.”
Click here for more photos.
Det.4 is a flexible stand-alone unit that is able to provide aviation operational support to theater commands across the globe. The detachment of pilots, mechanics and flight operations NCOs is charged with the safe and efficient transport of government and DoD officials, troops and cargo throughout an area of operation.
This is the 4th deployment for the unit since 2001, previously deploying as the first Kentucky aviation unit in Afghanistan in 2004, to Iraq in 2009-2010 and Kuwait 2012, among other locations throughout the world.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, the Kentucky National Guard has mobilized more than 18,000 Soldiers and Airmen in support of the Global War on Terror.