Fresno-based combat brigade takes over aviation operations at Camp Buehring

By Bridget Webster

The Fresno Bee (Tribune News Service)

Published: January 2, 2016

The 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, headquartered in Fresno, took over aviation operations in the U.S. Army Central’s area of responsibility on Dec. 20 at Camp Buehring, a staging post in Kuwait.

More than 1,000 soldiers with the brigade replaced the 185th Theater Aviation Brigade and are now lead by Col. Jeffrey Holliday and Command Sgt. Maj. Troy Eck.

“It’s a great honor to take over this mission from the 185th TAB,” Holliday said. “They did such an outstanding job of building relationships with our partners in the Middle East.”

After the ceremony, the remaining soldiers of the 185th TAB returned home after having been deployed to the Middle East since April 2015.

The brigade receives members from states such as Arizona, Arkansas, Oregon, Montana, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington and West Virginia.

“The 40th CAB works diligently with our partner nations to stabilize the region, providing a unified front against any threat,” said Capt. Robert Rodriguez, the 40th CAB’s partnership officer.

“It’s sad to see them go,” said Sgt. Kristen Kaminski, an aviation operations specialist in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 40th CAB, said of the 185th TAB. “They really knew their jobs, and they’re good people.”