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916th Support Brigade Information

916th Support Brigade
916th Support Brigade
Active	6 November 2008 – present
Country	United States
Allegiance	United States Army
Type	Support Brigade
Size	Brigade
Part of	National Training Center
Garrison/HQ	Fort Irwin, California
Nickname(s)	Sustainers
Motto(s)	Sustain The Force
Commanders
Brigade Commander	COL. LaHavi "Havi" Brunson
Command Sergeant Major	Command Sgt. Maj. Montrell L. Kea

The 916th Support Brigade ^[1] is a unit of the United States Army garrisoned at Fort Irwin National Training Center. The 916th Support Brigade operates as the notional Sustainment Command for all rotational units arriving and departing The National Training Center, while also acting as the Sustainment Brigade during the training period. The 916th is the one of the few Support Brigades currently active in the United States Army.

The 916th is subsequently divided into two subordinate battalions, the 1916th support battalion, which is primarily a transportation unit, and the 2916th aviation battalion. Elements of the 916th Support Brigade have deployed as a part of The Iraq War, and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.

Organization

The 916th Support Brigade falls under the organization of the notional 52nd Infantry Division, which is made up of the headquarters unit of Fort Irwin National Training Center. The Brigade is further broken down into the 1916th Support Battalion ^[2], and the 2916th Aviation Battalion ^[3].

Certain sections of each battalion is deployable while other sections are non-deployable permanent party that are too crucial for continued operations of The National Training Center to deploy.

The 916th also hires multiple Department of the Army civilians, and civilian contractors ^[4] to conduct aspects of its mission. The majority of these fall under the purview of the Brigade Headquarters, and assist in various support activities out in the training area such as sanitation services, ammunition transportation, and operating Material Handling Equipment to assist the Rotational units in downloading and uploading equipment. Some Department of the Army civilians also fill in certain staff positions, both in the Brigade and in the battalions.

1916th Support Battalion

The 1916th Support Battalion, comprised of 75x Oshkosh M1070A1 HET Systems, 4x Locomotives, and various equipment to operate while self-sustained in a contested environment, acts as the logistical back-bone for the NTC’s ground operations throughout all phases of training operations while supporting rotational units. The unit is responsible for the transportation, planning, and reporting of all cargo, equipment, vehicles, and personnel that train at the NTC. ^[5]

The Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) serves as the operational oversight section for the battalion, and executes the functions of all administrative roles for the unit. The Headquarters Company also serves as the organization responsible for the Field Feeding Team (FFT).

The 2nd Transportation Company (2TC) is comprised of 75x M1070A1 Heavy Equipment Transport (HET) systems, which enable 2TC to mobilize Brigade Combat Teams, and expedite the movement of tracked vehicles and combat platforms within the NTC. Most of the Soldiers’ MOS within the company are 88M.

The Movement Control Company (MCC) and the 171st Movement Control Team (171 MCT) provide critical logistical control over the flow of equipment, cargo, vehicles, and personnel both inbound and outbound during the RSOI process. The unit’s main support roles in the NTC include rail operations, air, surface, and command and control of each node of transportation. The propensity of this unit’s Soldiers have the 88N MOS.

2916th Aviation Battalion

The 2916th AVN BN “Raptors”, comprised of 13 UH-60L, 5 LUH-72, and MQ-1C aircraft, and supports the NTC with Air Movement, Air Assault, Aeromedical Evacuation, Aerial Attack and Aerial Reconnaissance. Additionally, the Raptors provide professional management and oversight of aviation contractual maintenance. On order, the 2916th deploys the MQ-1C Gray Eagle Company to support world-wide contingency operations. ^[6]

Due to the high operation tempo, aviators assigned to the 2916th Aviation Battalion Aircrew Training Program can expect to fly up to twice their required minimum flying hours. Aviators fill positions across all companies, supporting flight companies during periods of heavy support requirements.

The HHC “Griffons” are the headquarters element for both 2916th Aviation Battalion and the 916th Support Brigade. This company provides ground support, communication, and control functions for aviation elements, along with providing oversight for Brigade and Battalion staff.

The A Co “Desert Hawk” company is comprised of 7x UH-60L helicopters and provide general aviation support to the National Training Center including VIP transportation, Air Assault Operations, and Air Movement Operations. This company is stationed at the nearby Barstow-Daggett airfield located in Daggett, California.

The B Co “SOKOL” company is comprised of 5x LUH-72 helicopters which provide attack and reconnaissance to 11th ACR throughout the rotation as an Opposing Force to rotational units. This company is also stationed at Barstow-Daggett airport.

The C Co “Desert Dustoff” company is comprised of 6x UH-60L and provides aeromedical evacuation support for the National Training Center. The company stands on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in support of Fort Irwin, the National Training Center, and the greater Southern California area.

The B/229 “Flying Tigers” company is comprised of MQ-1 Grey Eagles and provides Aerial Surveillance and Command and Control capabilities to the Rotational Unit and Opposing Forces. B/229 also serves as the Raptor Battalion’s only deployable unit, standing ready to provide worldwide contingency operations.

History

Origins

Prior to the creation of the 916th Support Brigade, the role of sustaining the NTC mission was conducted under various names and leadership. The first Brigade sized element to conduct the duties of sustaining the NTC Mission fell under the Deputy Commander of Logistics, formed in 1994-1995. Following this, the NTC Theater Support Command was founded on 16 September 1997, with the Brigade’s mission expanded to also enable Brigade Combat Teams with the diverse and complex mission of theater-level opening, a task that is still overseen by the 916th ^[7]. Additionally, at this point the mission-critical task of aero-medical evacuation was added to the growing list of functions provided by the Brigade. The final shuffling prior to the creation of the 916th Support Brigade was in October 2006, when the Theater Support Command was re-designated as the NTC Support Brigade.

The most current transformation at the Brigade level occurred on November 6, 2008 when the NTC Support Brigade became the 916th Support Brigade. This transition also included creating the 1916th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, which eventually became the 1916th Support Battalion. On 15 September 2011, the 2916th Aviation Battalion would fall under 916 as well. Currently, the 916th supports a wide variety of mission essential tasks for The National Training Center.

1916th Support Battalion

On 6 November 2008, the NTC Corps Support Battalion became the 1916th Support Battalion. One element of the battalion, the 2nd transportation company, deployed to Iraq three times, in 2003 ^[8], in 2007 ^[9], and in 2009 ^[10].

2916th Aviation Battalion

The battalion was first constituted from the Echelons Above Brigade Support Battalion, under the 916th Support Brigade. On 1 April 2009, the Raptor battalion was officially designated as the General Support Aviation Battalion (Provisional). On 1 May 2009, United States Army Air Ambulance Detachment ^[11] was transferred under the new General Support Aviation Battalion, followed shortly by the NTC Aviation Company on 1 June 2009. In July 2011, the NTC Aviation Company was realigned into two separate aviation companies: A Company “Desert Hawks” and B Company “SOKOL.” A Company provided Air Assault and VIP Movement support, and B Company provided an Opposing Force against the rotational training units at Fort Irwin. In August 2011, the unit requested a numeric designation for the aviation battalion which FORSCOM approved 15 September 2011. The General Support Aviation Battalion was re-designated to the 2916 Aviation Battalion. In October 2013, a Command Implementation Plan was completed and sent to FORSCOM and approved for the disestablishment and re-alignment of the United States Air Ambulance Detachment, officially becoming C Company in October 2014, and on 11 August 2014, the 2916th Aviation Battalion received B Company, 229th Aviation Regiment.

Bravo 229 has a longer history, beginning on 19 March 1964 as Company B of the 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion of the 11th Air Assault Division in Fort Benning, GA. After the 11th Air Assault Division's absorption into the 1st Cavalry Division ^[12], B Company was stationed in Fort Hood, TX until it's inactivation on 22 August 1972. The Company was reactivated on 21 September 1978 as part of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY until it was deactivated in October 1987, then reorganized and re-designated as the Headquarters Company of 2nd Battalion, 229th Aviation back at Fort Hood Texas in November 1988. The Company served in Fort Hood and Fort Rucker, AL until October 1995 when it was deactivated yet again, and then in October 1996 they were re-designated as Company B, 229th Aviation at Fort Bragg, NC. In October 1997, Company B were inactivated for a final time. On 1 October 2005, Company B, 229th Aviation Regiment was officially re-designated with a permanent home of Fort Irwin, CA. Bravo 229 deployed to Afghanistan twice, once in 2015 ^[13], and once in 2021 ^[14].

Honors

Campaign streamers

Bravo 229:

References