National Guard aviation brigade soldiers to conduct annual training to enhance readiness

Soldiers from the 38th Combat Aviation Brigade, Indiana National Guard, will conduct annual training at several locations across Indiana as part of Operation Wabash Strike, June 10 and 11.

The training will enhance aviation readiness and ensure units remain capable of responding to state and federal missions.

“Annual training gives our soldiers the chance to build the skills they need to succeed in any environment,” said Col. Scott Oden, 38th Combat Aviation Brigade commander. “It’s not just about the equipment, but the people behind it.”

The brigade’s operations will include air movements, air assaults, aerial reconnaissance, sling load resupply, convoy operations and medical evacuation missions.

The training exercise supports the 38th Infantry Division’s mission to seize and secure key airfields. In the scenarios, soldiers will train at Camp Atterbury, Grissom Air Reserve Base, Peru Municipal Airport and Fulton County Airport.

“Our soldiers must be prepared to operate in any environment and annual training gives our soldiers the chance to build the skills they need to succeed,” said Oden.

Aside from annual training, brigade soldiers train year-round to be prepared at a moment’s notice to conduct full-spectrum aviation operations in support of the division and the state of Indiana.

In March at Camp Atterbury, the aviation soldiers trained with Marines as they practiced and refined their techniques to call in a medevac flight to help save lives on battlefields.