Commander lauds work of Hawaii forces in Afghanistan

By William Cole

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Aug 05, 2012

~~<p>Halfway through what is currently the largest deployment to Afghanistan by Hawaii troops, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade soldiers and helicopters are flying 3,500 hours a week as the United States continues a troop drawdown that will leave 68,000 American service members in the country by October.</p>
<p>Brigade commander Col. Frank Tate, recently back in Hawaii for rest and recuperation leave, said his soldiers are flying 3,000 hours a month more than the helicopter unit they replaced -- and that's saving lives.</p>
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Halfway through what is currently the largest deployment to Afghanistan by Hawaii troops, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade soldiers and helicopters are flying 3,500 hours a week as the United States continues a troop drawdown that will leave 68,000 American service members in the country by October.

Brigade commander Col. Frank Tate, recently back in Hawaii for rest and recuperation leave, said his soldiers are flying 3,000 hours a month more than the helicopter unit they replaced -- and that's saving lives. Login for more...