Aviation unit scheduled for take off early next year                                                            Story by Sgt. Sheila Holifield, Camp Atterbury Public Affairs                                  Posted September 26, 2008

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. – After flying more than 3,500 hours during its deployment to Bosnia in 2004, the 2nd Battalion of the 238th General Support Aviation from Shelbyville, Ind., is ready for take off again. This time the Indiana National Guard aviation unit is deploying to Kuwait in early 2009.

“Our mission is to provide general support aviation for the Coalition Forces Land Component, Kuwait and Southern Iraq,” said Lt. Col. Bernard Kruse, commander for the   2-238th.

More than 150 Indiana troops and approximately 40 from California will make-up the general support aviation team. 

“The majority of our Soldiers have previous deployment experience and do a lot of the same thing during our drill weekends,” said Kruse. 

The unit provides aviation support for the state of Indiana - primarily Indianapolis, Camp Atterbury and Muscatatuck Urban Training Center.

“A lot of what we will be doing in country is similar to what we do here in Indiana and that gives our Soldiers confidence in knowing we can complete the mission,” said Kruse.

No matter the country or the terrain, providing aviation support is not only a busy one, but a very important one.

“When the commander of the CFLCC and his staff need transportation, they look to us because driving takes too long and it’s not as safe,” said Kruse. 

As with any mission, there are many unknowns but the 2-238th is ready for whatever may lie ahead.

“Flexibility is going to be vital to our success,” said Kruse.  “We will have eight aircrafts and we need to have them ready to respond at a moment’s notice.”

Maj. Chuck Yingst, operations officer for the 2-238th, agrees with Kruse about staying flexible. 

“Not only do we have to be ready to respond immediately, but we have to maintain perfection,” said Yingst. 

“We are in charge of getting people from point ‘a’ to point ‘b’ and there is no room for error,” he added.

“We are going to be flying a large number of VIPs and when you have that type of precious cargo on board our only mission will be to keep them safe,” said Yingst.

The 2-238th is currently wrapping up their pre-mobilization training at Camp Atterbury as part of their annual training. During their two weeks here, the unit conducted training in convoy operations, sling load operations, and even a downed aircraft scenario.  The unit will head to Fort Sill, Okla., for more training prior to shipping off to Kuwait early next year.

“Everyone’s excited,” said Yingst.  “It’s always satisfying to do our job.”