Monday, March 27, the Oklahoma National Guard 1st Battalion, 244th Aviation Regiment conducted aviation operations and flew members of the media, including Seminole Producer Publisher Mike Gifford, to Ft. Riley, Kansas, utilizing a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

Early next year, members of the 244th will serve as the aviation task force for the NATO-led Kosovo Force, where they will support peacekeeping operations. Further details on this mobilization will be available at a later date.

While at Ft. Riley, Kansas, Gifford observed Task Force Tomahawk, which is comprised of units from the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, conduct a selection of required training before heading to post-mobilization at Ft. Bliss, Texas, followed by their deployment to the Horn of Africa Region.

Task Force Tomahawk Pre-mobilization training (PMT) for the National Guard is training that Soldiers undergo before deploying for overseas active duty. This training ensures that Soldiers are prepared to carry out their deployment-specific missions and duties.

PMT requirements can vary depending on mission and the needs of the unit being mobilized. Some common training elements include: combat skills at the individual warrior task level to platoon level, medical training, cultural awareness, equipment training that will be used while deployed and any other mission-specific training.

More than 1,000 Oklahoma Army National Guardsmen, including a company each from Nebraska and Indiana, will deploy overseas as Task Force Tomahawk in support of operations within U.S. Africa Command’s area of responsibility. While there, they will provide security support at five installations across three East African countries. In addition to conventional security operations, the Task Force will man the East African Response Force.

Members of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team are currently conducting pre-mobilization training where each Soldier focuses on training ranging from individual warrior tasks and squad-level to platoon-level tasks.

Part of the training seen Monday included various weapons ranges from individual to crew-served weapons and squad patrol lanes focusing on individual troop and squad movement. The overall training is evaluated to ensure each Soldier and their respective platoons and companies are adequately prepared for the mission ahead.

In addition to TF Tomahawk, 45th IBCT members with the 700th Brigade Support Battalion, 545th Brigade Engineer Battalion with elements of the 1st Squadron 180th Cavalry Regiment, are at Ft. Riley as supporting elements during the TF’s PMT.

Members of the 700th BSB are focusing on logistics operations such as delivering meals, ammunition, running the medical clinic, maintenance support and more.

The 545th is responsible for tactical and weapons range operations to support the TF’s training requirements.