News
ENLARGE
A Nevada Army National Guard aviation company is in its final days of preparation before leaving the state to begin its deployment process to Afghanistan sometime this spring.
About 60 guardsmen, with about one-sixth of them living in the Fallon-Fernley-Silver Springs area, have been honing their skills before Bravo Company, 1-189th General Support Aviation Battalion, conducts a formal mobilization ceremony in less than two weeks at the Army Aviation Support Facility at Stead.
Company commander Capt. Michael Bordallo of Reno said on Friday the unit will perform missions such as transporting personnel and equipment and providing combat support.
“We definitely have a mix of veterans who have that saltiness, and new soldiers who have that enthusiasm and high interest,” Bordallo said. “Together, it's a great combination.”
The unit flies CH-47 helicopters and will fly six Chinooks to Ft. Hood, Texas, later this month for mobilization training. Bordallo said Colorado will then assume control of the CH-47s when Bravo Company departs to Afghanistan to fly CH-47s left behind by the Hawaii Army National Guard.
This deployment will mark the second time since 2005 that this aviation company will deploy to Afghanistan. In January 2005, the unit formerly designated Company D of the 113 Aviation Battalion departed the AASF for training at Ft. Sill, Okla., before heading overseas. Company D also endured the pains of war when insurgents shot down a CH-47 Chinook in late September 2005, killing all five aboard including two aviators from Nevada.
Bordallo, who served on active duty for four years before joining the Nevada National Guard in 2004, said his soldiers are looking forward to the deployment.
“We are going to do our mission and come home,” Bordallo said.
Sgt. First Class Epifanio Rodarte of Fernley is one of the few guardsmen going on this tour who de ployed seven years ago. During the previous months, Rodarte said the unit has trained at the U.S. Navy's Bravo 19 range south of Fallon and at a gunnery range in Utah to practice hover and door gunnery marksmanship.
Rodarte also said the longtime veterans know more of what to expect, but they are willing to help the newest soldiers.
“We have a lot of kids in our platoon,” said Rodarte, the flight platoon sergeant.
Two of the first-time soldiers deploying to the war zone hail from Fallon.
Spc. Robert Graves has been in the Guard for two years, and this will be his first deployment.
“I am a little nervous and anxious, but we need to get over there and do it,” he said.
The 26-year-old Graves said he has done research in finding out more about the country and its environment. The crew chief also found some information on You Tube.
His brother, Pvt. Jeffrey (Graves) Fiske, said he has enjoyed his 18 months in the National Guard.
“I like it,” said the 25-year-old Fiske. “It's awesome and good with its career opportunities. Plans in life are going as planned.”
Once in country, Fiske said, he will take aviation courses being offered by Emery-Riddle.
Fiske said he wants to go to Afghanistan with an open mind and is trying to avoid the media's reporting of bad news.
Sgt. Shawn Smith, who works for CC Communications in Fallon, has an important task ahead of him.
“I do the structural integrity of the bird. I make sure it is air-worthy,” he said.
Smith said he feels very comfortable in knowing about the mission and where the unit is headed. Smith said he has talked with other guardsmen who have deployed to Afghanistan, and they have provided him information on what to expect at the base with weather, etc.
“The people who have de ployed have given us a lot of in formation,” Graves added.
ADD YTHIS IF ONLY NEEDED
Spc. William J. Frederick, a member of the Guard for two years, said this will be his first deployment. One of his major duties will be that of door gunner.
“I volunteered to come over from a different unit to do this,” he said of his mission.
The 2004 Carson High School graduate said everyone in the company is ready to deploy.
“We have a great bunch of people in this unit,” he said.
Frederick said soldiers ho have previously deployed to Afghanistan have been helpful with their knowledge and help.
Sgt. Jason Coleman, a 2001 Carson High School graduate, has served in the National Guard for six years. This will also be his first deployment to war zone. Previously, he said he spent a five-month tour to Haiti to provide assistance after the 2010 earthquake.
He said serving in Haiti was invaluable experience.
“I does allow you to adapt faster to a foreign culture,” he said.
Coleman will have dual duties in Afghanistan, one as a crew chief and the other as a supply noncommissioned-officer-in-charge (NCOIC) for Bravo Company. As a crew chief, Coleman said he will be responsible for the rear portion of the Chinook and also serve as a door gunner.
He said his wife is upset that he is deploying, but she understands. Coleman's brother and sister in law are currently serving a deployment in Afghanistan with the 485th Military Police Company.
About 60 guardsmen, with about one-sixth of them living in the Fallon-Fernley-Silver Springs area, have been honing their skills before Bravo Company, 1-189th General Support Aviation Battalion, conducts a formal mobilization ceremony in less than two weeks at the Army Aviation Support Facility at Stead.
Company commander Capt. Michael Bordallo of Reno said on Friday the unit will perform missions such as transporting personnel and equipment and providing combat support.
“We definitely have a mix of veterans who have that saltiness, and new soldiers who have that enthusiasm and high interest,” Bordallo said. “Together, it's a great combination.”
The unit flies CH-47 helicopters and will fly six Chinooks to Ft. Hood, Texas, later this month for mobilization training. Bordallo said Colorado will then assume control of the CH-47s when Bravo Company departs to Afghanistan to fly CH-47s left behind by the Hawaii Army National Guard.
This deployment will mark the second time since 2005 that this aviation company will deploy to Afghanistan. In January 2005, the unit formerly designated Company D of the 113 Aviation Battalion departed the AASF for training at Ft. Sill, Okla., before heading overseas. Company D also endured the pains of war when insurgents shot down a CH-47 Chinook in late September 2005, killing all five aboard including two aviators from Nevada.
Bordallo, who served on active duty for four years before joining the Nevada National Guard in 2004, said his soldiers are looking forward to the deployment.
“We are going to do our mission and come home,” Bordallo said.
Sgt. First Class Epifanio Rodarte of Fernley is one of the few guardsmen going on this tour who de ployed seven years ago. During the previous months, Rodarte said the unit has trained at the U.S. Navy's Bravo 19 range south of Fallon and at a gunnery range in Utah to practice hover and door gunnery marksmanship.
Rodarte also said the longtime veterans know more of what to expect, but they are willing to help the newest soldiers.
“We have a lot of kids in our platoon,” said Rodarte, the flight platoon sergeant.
Two of the first-time soldiers deploying to the war zone hail from Fallon.
Spc. Robert Graves has been in the Guard for two years, and this will be his first deployment.
“I am a little nervous and anxious, but we need to get over there and do it,” he said.
The 26-year-old Graves said he has done research in finding out more about the country and its environment. The crew chief also found some information on You Tube.
His brother, Pvt. Jeffrey (Graves) Fiske, said he has enjoyed his 18 months in the National Guard.
“I like it,” said the 25-year-old Fiske. “It's awesome and good with its career opportunities. Plans in life are going as planned.”
Once in country, Fiske said, he will take aviation courses being offered by Emery-Riddle.
Fiske said he wants to go to Afghanistan with an open mind and is trying to avoid the media's reporting of bad news.
Sgt. Shawn Smith, who works for CC Communications in Fallon, has an important task ahead of him.
“I do the structural integrity of the bird. I make sure it is air-worthy,” he said.
Smith said he feels very comfortable in knowing about the mission and where the unit is headed. Smith said he has talked with other guardsmen who have deployed to Afghanistan, and they have provided him information on what to expect at the base with weather, etc.
“The people who have de ployed have given us a lot of in formation,” Graves added.
ADD YTHIS IF ONLY NEEDED
Spc. William J. Frederick, a member of the Guard for two years, said this will be his first deployment. One of his major duties will be that of door gunner.
“I volunteered to come over from a different unit to do this,” he said of his mission.
The 2004 Carson High School graduate said everyone in the company is ready to deploy.
“We have a great bunch of people in this unit,” he said.
Frederick said soldiers ho have previously deployed to Afghanistan have been helpful with their knowledge and help.
Sgt. Jason Coleman, a 2001 Carson High School graduate, has served in the National Guard for six years. This will also be his first deployment to war zone. Previously, he said he spent a five-month tour to Haiti to provide assistance after the 2010 earthquake.
He said serving in Haiti was invaluable experience.
“I does allow you to adapt faster to a foreign culture,” he said.
Coleman will have dual duties in Afghanistan, one as a crew chief and the other as a supply noncommissioned-officer-in-charge (NCOIC) for Bravo Company. As a crew chief, Coleman said he will be responsible for the rear portion of the Chinook and also serve as a door gunner.
He said his wife is upset that he is deploying, but she understands. Coleman's brother and sister in law are currently serving a deployment in Afghanistan with the 485th Military Police Company.
