Recent Unit Highlights
In fiscal year 2020, the 1-108th successfully completed its recovery and reconstitution from its nine-month deployment in support of Operations Inherent Resolve and Spartan Shield throughout Syria, Iraq, Jordan, and Kuwait. The battalion focused on annual requirements such as the Aviation Resource Management Surveys, Individual Weapons Qualifications, Periodic Health Assessments, and Aerial Gunnery. Due to COVID-19, four months of in-person drills were cancelled, leaving much of the training and ARMS prep to be completed remotely.
The battalion sought to rebuild combat-capable crews through a focus on Readiness Level and Pilot in Command Progression, aerial gunnery, and multiship operations to prepare for initial collective training in fiscal year 2021. The battalion planned to support the 635th Regional Support Group during annual training in fiscal year 2020 as part of a combined arms exercise in conjunction with the 891st Engineer Battalion and the 1st Battalion, 635th Armored Regiment, but this exercise was modified as part of the COVID-19 mitigation effort.
Company G, 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation Regiment focused on mobilization preparation and live hoist training, which the adjutant general and state staff participated in during training conducted at the Kansas Training Center in July. The company had planned to continue its successful partnership with Washburn Tech, but training was delayed due to COVID-19.
Kansas National Guard aviation assets continued to be responsive to its Defense Support of Civilian Authorities mission by responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and grassland fires.
1-108th and Company G, 1-111th responded to the pandemic with two flight crews and aircraft, combining to fly 12 missions over 58 hours, and transporting more than 30 passengers and 1,600 pounds of cargo and medication throughout the state. The battalion also responded with an aeromedical physician assistant to support the Liberal community-based testing center, several Soldiers for the Topeka security mission escorting a decontamination system, three medics treating COVID-19 patients at Lansing prison, and multiple Soldiers working for the 69th Troop Command distributing personal protective equipment to Kansas Department of Health and Environment out stations.
Kansas National Guard aviation assets responded to St. Francis, Medicine Lodge, and Scott City to fight grassland wildfires. These aircraft flew over 30 hours and dropped 23 660-gallon buckets of water to protect the community.
