New York Army National Guard Aviation Unit Returns Home to Long Island

Unit completes Iraq tour

LATHAM, NY (05/29/2009)(readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard Soldiers return home to the Army Aviation Support Facility at Long Island MacArthur Airport after completing their one-year of active duty for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

WHAT: Homecoming of Soldiers returning by bus from their demobilization at Fort Dix, N.J.

WHO: Approx. 24 Soldiers. The remainder of the Long Island troops, 35 Soldiers, returned directly home from Fort Dix with family members.

WHERE: New York Army National Guard Aviation Support Facility, 201 Schaefer Drive, Long Island MacArthur Airport, Ronkonkoma, N.Y. 11779

WHEN: Approximately 8:30 a.m., Saturday, May 30, 2009. Bus arrival expected at 9 a.m.

Media Opportunities:

News media will view the homecoming of National Guard Soldiers with their families. Media must contact the Long Island MacArthur Airport Communications Director for access to the airport facilities. Contact Catherine Green, cgreen@townofislip-ny.gov or (631) 467 - 3300; cell: (516) 749 - 8696.

BACKROUND:

More than 135 members of the New York Army National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion who served in Iraq for nine months returned to the United States last weekend and completed demobilization tasks. Long Island welcomes home more than 50 Soldiers this weekend.

The battalion, headquartered near Long Island's Islip MacArthur Airport at the New York Army National Guard's Ronkonkoma Army Aviation Support Facility, also has a flight company near Albany International Airport in Latham, N.Y.

Known in Iraq as Task Force Jester, the aircrews and Soldiers of the 3-142nd conducted aviation operations throughout central and southern Iraq to support coalition and Iraqi forces movements of troops and supplies.

The battalion of more than 320 Soldiers conducted split based operations with a company located in Basra and the remainder of the battalion at Baghdad International Airport.

By May of 2009, Task Force Jester had oversight of 62 aircraft (55 UH-60 Blackhawks and seven AH-64 Apaches), more than double the unit's normal complement of helicopters without additional staffing.

Over the course of the deployment, the aircrews from the task force flew more than 15,000 flight hours, moving more than 50,000 personnel and 1,000,000 lbs. of cargo.

This event marks the homecoming for the remainder of the battalion's troops. The unit will come back together in approximately one month to begin their Yellow Ribbon reintegration program to offer Soldiers and their families information and services prior to returning to a regular National Guard drill status.