Illinois National Guard Aviators, Soldiers Return from Kuwait

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CHICAGO (05/01/2013)(readMedia)-- In front of an excited crowd of more than 200 family members, friends and supporters, 45 Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers with Company B, 106th Aviation Regiment in Chicago and 130 Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers with Company B, 935th Aviation Support Battalion in Chicago returned home to a welcome home ceremony at the Midway Aviation Support Facility, May 1.

The Soldiers mobilized in June 2012 and deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The 106th completed partnership exercises to train U.S. and Kuwait troops conducting aviation operations with multi-national forces on AH-64 Apache and Puma helicopters. They also supported a mission training Jordanians on the UH-60 Blackhawk. Additionally, the 106th supported shipboard resupply missions with the U.S. Navy in the North Arabian Gulf and conducted multiple training operations with both the U.S. and non-U.S. Special Forces units.

The 935th Soldiers were joined by approximately 20 troops from the South Dakota Army National Guard to conduct aviation maintenance operations in Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Members of the 935th were part of an intermediate level aviation maintenance support company that supported UH-60 Blackhawks and AH-64 Apaches from the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade based in Missouri.

The 935th company commander, Maj. Keith Noppenberger of Peotone, said the unit achieved numerous important objectives. He said the most notable accomplishment was combining National Guard units from two separate states into a multifunctional aviation maintenance company. The group successfully completed more than 2,000 highly technical aviation maintenance work orders, to include 13 UH-60 Blackhawk phase maintenance inspections along with seven AH-64 Apache phases.

The unit also completed 10 in-depth UH-60 modifications and supported the brigade with multiple blade folding missions for aircraft being loaded and unloaded on vessels at the ports and airfields. The unit also provided highly technical subject matter expertise to Army water vessels.

No Soldiers from the Illinois or South Dakota Army National Guard units were seriously injured during this deployment.

Photo 1: The unit also completed 10 in-depth UH-60 modifications and supported the brigade with multiple blade folding missions for aircraft being loaded and unloaded on vessels at the ports and airfields. The unit also provided highly technical subject matter expertise to Army water vessels.

No Soldiers from the Illinois or South Dakota Army National Guard units were seriously injured during this deployment.

Photo 2: U.S. Army photo by Capt. Dustin Cammack, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs/ Illinois Army National Guard Soldier Capt. Scott Sengenberger of Chicago, is reunited with his family at a welcome home ceremony at the Midway Aviation Support Facility, May 1. Approximately 45 Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers with Company B, 106th Aviation Regiment in Chicago and 130 Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers with Company B, 935th Aviation Support Battalion in Chicago, returned home to a crowd of more than 200 family members, friends and supporters.

Photo 3: U.S. Army photo by Capt. Dustin Cammack, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs/ Illinois Army National Guard Soldier Capt. Scott Sengenberger of Chicago, is reunited with his family at a welcome home ceremony at the Midway Aviation Support Facility, May 1. Approximately 45 Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers with Company B, 106th Aviation Regiment in Chicago and 130 Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers with Company B, 935th Aviation Support Battalion in Chicago, returned home to a crowd of more than 200 family members, friends and supporters.