Warriors in Peace Operations - Strategic Studies Institute - U.S. Army

launch for early morning flights because of ice and snow.
When helicopter rotor blades are exposed to snow and ice,
they tend to freeze up. This requires an extended period for
de-icing and snow removal, which is very manpower and
resource intensive, a process the chain did not understand,
causing frustrations and agony for the aviation battalion
and brigade commanders.
The battalion closed at the ISB on December 28, with 438
soldiers and 98 percent of organic equipment without an
accident or incident. The snow was approximately eight
inches deep, with the average temperature hovering at 25
degrees Fahrenheit. The battalion had the one small hanger
for aircraft maintenance and one maintenance building for
ground vehicles. These facilities were to support over 100
aircraft and 500 vehicles for the first 3 weeks of the
operation, a task too great with the limited available space.
We could perform some operations outside, but these were
very limited. Frankly, it was too windy and cold for the
conduct of any extended outdoor maintenance operations.
Moreover, the majority of the tools were loaded for transport
down range. Where were the maintenance tents? The
answer: same as the tools, loaded in Milvans ready for
shipment to the Bosnia AOR.
The aviation brigade began conducting daily training
and support missions in the local flying area, as well as
operational missions to Bosnia. Continuity was the key for
sustained CSS to the brigade. The battalion adopted flexible
maintenance policies to support continuously changing
missions and force-projection AH-64 operations in Tuzla.
The aviation brigade commander and I formulated a logistic
support plan to accommodate the fluid operational
environment. This plan had to be flexible, sustainable for an
extended period, timely, and forward-looking to achieve
success.
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