Oklahoma National Guard soldiers prepare for Kosovo

About 50 soldiers of the Oklahoma National Army Guard with Charlie Company, the First Battalion, the 244th Air Force Regiment, the 90th Corps Command, are undergoing mobilization training in preparation for their next diplomatic deployment in Kosovo in support of KFOR.

Armed with helicopters UH-60M, Regiment Soldiers 244 focus on specific work training while being assessed by members of the American Army, a command of this mobilization, readiness and training, reports American media “DVIDShub”.

In these missions, the 244 Aviation Regiment will execute various missions, including air transport and air strike operations.

“We are doing many different missions and very maintenance, so prepare us to go abroad and do what we have to do”, said Sergeant Colton Scrantlen, helicopter repairer UH-60 with Regiment 244.

The battalion is conducting various training activities to increase their readiness, including soldiers' basic skills, medical training, aircraft maintenance, sling loading, and fuel.

“It's a big mission with high intensity for maintenance and training”, Scantlen said. Many of these young men will be able to get a lot of quality training from this mission, because that's what we're going to do every day”.

Despite rigorous training schedule, the AHB soldiers remain positive about the challenges of the future deployment.

Everyone is very excited”, said Captain Jimmy Knorr, commander of Charlie Company, 1-244. “They're a little nervous and that's the first diversion of some of them, but they're looking forward to it and they're ready to follow it”.

In addition to strengthening the technical skills required for the mission, this mobilization training promotes inter-entity co-operation, stressing the importance of building relations before going abroad and boosting a sense of friendship and mutual support.

This helps build that friendship and relationship between the two sub-entity”, Scantlen said. This way, when we go abroad, we don't have to worry about anything there. They know they can rely on us and we can rely on them”.

The leaders expressed confidence in soldiers' capabilities, emphasising moral and high emotion among troops as they prepare for the unique challenges of their dislocation.

I'm 100% sure the soldiers here will be able to carry out their” mission, Norvell said. “I'm very proud and honored to be here with those guys and I couldn't have chosen a better team to be here”