The Home Stretch

The start of October serves as a final countdown for returning home. Our replacements have already mobilized and unit members have started to prepare for life after Iraq---some have initiated contact with civilian employers, others are conducting job searches, while a few prepare to retire from military service. Change will come quickly...and in my case, sooner than expected when I was selected to attend a military assessment back in the United States. With time winding down for the unit, the challenge is to remain focused while still savoring those last days with your buddies.

Since my blog posts are nearing an end, the following is meant to serve as a reflection on where we started this Iraq journey and how far we have come. In October 2005, C-23 flight detachments from RI, IN and PA met at Ft. Dix, New Jersey to prepare for a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The state detachments had no experience working together, but joined forces to form D Company, 126th Aviation. D/126 was attached to the 159th Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division based out of Balad, Iraq. Upon arrival in Iraq in December 2005, the unit began compiling a performance level that exceeded the production of any previous C-23 rotation.

D/126 consisted of 30+ soldiers and proved that a single C-23 Sherpa Company was capable of supporting the mission requirements of three different commands; Multi National Corps-Iraq (MNCI), Combined Forces Land Component Command in Kuwait (CFLCC), and the Special Operations Task Force. By projecting performance thru October 2006, D/126 will have flown over 6,500 flight hours, conducted more than 1,600 missions and fulfilled over 10,000 aviation mission requests. By the time D/126 departs Iraq, the unit will have moved over 12 Million pounds of cargo and hauled 30,000 passengers throughout Iraq and Kuwait. The goal was to support the war effort with consistent and reliable service and have everyone come home.It was truly an honor to serve with the soldiers of D/126...I've never worked with a finer group of people. Stay Focused---Stay Safe---and I look forward to seeing everyone at Ft. Dix for demobilization.