JOINT BASE ELMENDORF RICHARDSON, Alaska. – Annual training requires a diverse group of individuals to work together to accomplish a successful mission in the military. The 2nd Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment improves its mission readiness by having their complete battalion with them for training.

This will be the first time the 2-228^th Avn. Bn. will have their Headquarters Company, A Company, B Company and C Company together for annual training. The battalion is to, on order, deploy to a specified theater of operations to conduct fixed wing aviation operations and provide command and control as directed by the land component commander.

“It’s an awesome feeling and brings great pride to me,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Ladlee, command sergeant major of the 2-228^th Avn. Bn., of Newburgh, N.Y. “To see the unit as a battalion, which to my knowledge has never done a training like this before, to be able to achieve mission readiness during annual training at full-strength.”

The training and operations department of the 2-228^th Avn. Bn. had to plan a joint branch training exercise with Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska, and the Alaska National Guard to host an annual training exercise big enough for their battalion.

“Right now this is like having two battalion-size exercises in one, making it twice as much work” said Capt. Adam Stanley, Officer In Charge of Operations of the 2-228^th Avn. Bn., of Denver, Colo. “Because we have the majority of the battalion doing the actual exercise out in the field and the other part controlling all operations in the tactical operations center.”

The battalion will conduct Extended Combat Training and perform flight operations in support of Joint Operational Support Airlift Center and Operational Support Airlift Agency to prepare and refine the battalion level skills needed to respond to humanitarian missions and combat threats.

The three flight companies will be using eight C-12 and four UC-35 airplanes to carry distinguished visitors and supplies during the annual training. While the headquarters company will be supporting them in the mission training complex.

Stanley said JBER was chosen because Alaska provides the most similar austere environment as Afghanistan with its higher altitude, very unpredictable weather patterns and is very mountainous. The pilots gain a great deal of experience by flying from their home stations on the east coast up here by itself.

“I want to push the Soldiers of my battalion to the limits to find their breaking point,” said Lt. Col. Jami Shawley, commander of the 2-228^th Avn. Bn., of Charleston, Mo. “Not to see them fail, but so I know where we need to improve.”