Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Jed Boal ReportingWhile the President's global fight on terror has sent thousands of Utah troops into Iraq, others are being sent into Afghanistan to take on members of the Taliban and al-Qaeda still on the loose.
Apache Helicopter crews from the 1st Battalion of the 211th Aviation Regiment train for a different battlefield in Afghanistan.
Chief Warrant Officer Brad Stryker, 1st Battalion of the 211th Aviation Regiment: “It's been some long hours, long missions and long days."
Chief Warrant Officers Brad Stryker and Devin Snowball would usually attack or defend armored convoys from a distance. In Afghanistan it's different.
Chief Warrant Officer Brad Stryker, 1st Batt. of the 211th Aviation Reg.: “The enemy's not like that. They're smaller, less organized, that's we're trained to do."
Apache weapons blow up tanks and take out many attackers, but enemies and allies may be side-by-side in villages. The 211th will move in close, a challenge for the pilots.
Chief Warrant Officer Devin Snowball, 1st Battalion of the 211th Aviation Regiment: “Anxiety, there will be some. We'll be prepared for it."
New violence has erupted in Afghanistan. The military blames remnants of the Taliban and al-Qaida. Commanding Officer Rodney Robinson say the 211th relies on proficient soldiers who retrain for battle quickly.
Lt. Col. Rodney Robinson/1st Battalion of the 211th Aviation Regiment: “The more we get into it, the better it goes. We'll be ready to deploy."
Maintenance on the Apaches keeps mechanics, electricians and weapons specialists busy. It's a large team effort. The commander calls the 300 member unit confident, even a bit cocky, but says they need to be.
Lt. Col. Rodney Robinson, 1st Batt. of the 211th Aviation Regiment: “If they do anything, they look after each other. You look after him.”
And the 211th Apaches will look after troops on the ground. The 211th is likely to deploy to Afghanistan sometime in March. They left Utah for Fort Carson shortly after New Year's.
