1st Battalion, 108th Aviation Regiment

Soldiers of Company G, 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation Regiment (General Aviation Support Battalion) and the 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation partnered with members of the 190th Air Refueling Wing - Kansas Air National Guard Wing Medical Group in a joint medevac exercise June 6. The exercise followed three days of classroom instruction in Advanced Combat Trauma Delayed Casualty Treatment Care facilitated by Tactical Medics Group.

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation Regiment landed as part of a transportation mission at the Quivira Boy Scout Ranch in Chautauqua County. An impromptu static display took place as the Boy Scouts couldn't resist coming up and checking out the helicopter.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jace Rowe completed his last Black Hawk helicopter flight on May 10. Rowe was greeted by family and friends when he landed. As part of the tradition, the helicopter is sprayed down with water when it lands and the pilot is sprayed down by their family after completing the flight. Rowe will retire from the Kansas Guard later this year.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Matthew Osborne took his last helicopter flight on March 30. Osbourne will retire from the Kansas Guard in July.

Lt. Col. Josh Urban relinquished command of the battalion to Lt. Col. Kevin Kennedy in a change of command ceremony in Topeka on Oct. 14. Col. Carlin Williams, commander of the 635th Regional Support Group, presided over the ceremony.

The 1-108th conducted a Change of Responsibility on 15 June 2023. CSM Gibson relinquished responsibility of the Battalion to CSM Worley. Thank you CSM Gibson for your leadership and guidance over the last 18 months and welcome CSM Worley, we are excited to get to work.

The 1-108th had the privilege of recognizing the retirement of a truly one-of-a-kind Soldier and Aviator on 2 April 2023. This past weekend CW4 Doug Hoover wrapped up a career in the KSARNG that began in 1981. CW4 Hoover initially retired after 20 years of service in June 2001, but after 9/11 he chose to answer the call to serve once again. CW4 Hoover will officially retire on 30 April 2023 after completing 40+ years of service to the 1-108th and the KSARNG. Congratulations Mr. Hoover and enjoy your retirement. It is well deserved.

Kansas Army National Guard holds aviation, K-9 training The Kansas Army National Guard helped state fire investigators get some aviation training in.

Yesterday we were honored to recognize MSG Shawn Perkins as he retired with over 32 years of service to the KSARNG. Congratulations Shawn Perkins and good luck on your future endeavors.

JRTC 22-08.5 was the culmination of two years of hard work and sacrifice. The Joint Readiness Training Center is the premier crucible training experience where units are prepared to fight and win in the most complex environments. TF Talon successfully integrated units from Kansas, Nebraska and Alabama in support of the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team at Ft. Polk, LA 5 July - 3 August.

CPL Chavez was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in a ceremony in Topeka, Kansas. SGT Chavez’s rank was vigorously applied by his loving wife. SGT is a 25 U in 1-108th HHC.

A retirement ceremony was held for CSM Mark Seats at the Museum of the Kansas National Guard on Feb. 25. With this much aviation history in the room, you have to capture it.
UPDATE: This photo represents more than 277 years of military service. Thank you to all of you for your dedicated service to your state and nation!

Resilience Skill of the month:

We sometimes get stuck in the aftermath of a significant event.

I encourage you to look to the skills trained by our Master Resilience Trainers.

There are several skills when strung together can help shake us out of a spiral.

It is good to take a step back, look at the facts, pull the emotion out of the situation, and reevaluate how we got into that spiral.

Hunt the good stuff, put it in perspective and use some of your real time resilience!!