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Welcome to
TRANSLOAD MILITARY
Welcome to Fort Wainwright
Wainwright Army Airbase
"PAFB"
HOME OF THE ARCTIC
KNIGHTS
Welcome to the home of the Army’s best Theater Support
Aviation Battalion as well as its northern-most aviation unit.
The 4-123 rd Aviation is a unique aviation unit structure that
operates in the very unique environment of the interior of
Alaska. For those of you who are just coming to
Alaska, I am excited that you are joining the team and I’m sure
you’ll find your work here important, challenging, and
rewarding. The battalion consists of five very
diverse companies with varied missions. Transload Company is our
UH-60 Assault Company that conducts Air Assault and General
Support Aviation operations. The “Renegades” are a
self-supporting unit with their own maintenance and logistics
capabilities. The CH-47 Company of the battalion is
the B Company “Sugar bears”. These fine soldiers
provide heavy lift capability throughout Alaska and conduct a
very-wide range of missions for the U.S. Army Alaska as well as
the local populace. The battalion has its own
MEDEVAC Company in the 68 th Medical Company (Air Ambulance).
Not only do the DUSTOFF soldiers provide 24/7 coverage of
military operations, but they also conduct life-saving missions
for the citizens of Alaska at all times of the day and night.
Unlike any other aviation battalion in the Army, 4-123 rd Avn
has its own AVIM Company in C/123 rd Aviation (AVIM).
The “Old Dukes” provide this much needed capability for all of
the airframe types in the battalion. Rounding out
the battalion is the Headquarters Company. Charged
with supporting the staff and the logistical operations of the
unit, the “Wolverines” are a proud group that performs its
mission flawlessly. The Alaskan experience is truly
a once in a lifetime opportunity. It is a beautiful
state with outdoor activities that can’t be found anywhere else.
As I’m sure that you’ve heard, the winters are long and cold.
The temperatures regularly get down below -30F, but if you dress
correctly you can still experience the outdoors even during the
most extreme cold spells. While the winters are a
test of endurance, the reward is the awesome summer.
By the end of May we experience about 20 hours of light and
temperatures between 60F and 80F. The possibilities
in the summer are almost endless. Currently the battalion is
actively engaged in supporting the Global War on Terrorism with
elements already operating in Afghanistan in Operation Enduring
Freedom. Soon, a large part of the unit will deploy
for Operation Iraqi Freedom and will be conducting operations
throughout that theater. I ask each of you to take
the time and effort to put your own personal support systems in
place to ensure that loved ones left behind are able to
effectively operate and so that the soldiers who go forward can
give their undivided attention to the mission at hand.
This will help achieve our goal of completing our mission and
returning everyone safely home. On behalf of
the Arctic Knight's and the Transload family as well as the
people of the United States, I want to say “thank you” for your
selfless service and your sacrifices for this great nation of
ours. Not only your devotion, but that of your
family as well, is a testament to the Army and to the values
that our nation embodies. I’m proud to serve with
each and every one of you.
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