Get ready to party, aviation-style.
To celebrate the standing up of the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, the Ansbach, Germany, community will host a week of festivities starting Monday for the whole garrison community.
Activities begin at 11 a.m. Monday on Katterbach Army Airfield, with an activation ceremony and a demonstration of the brigade’s aircraft, which include more than 100 Chinook, Apache and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.
That will be followed by food, drinks, rides and a concert featuring the band Custom Made.
On Tuesday, there will be a four-on-four basketball tournament at the Katterbach fitness center, and a host of softball, flag football and other tournaments throughout Illesheim and Katterbach.
Thursday’s final day of good times will feature a chili cook-off at the airfield and a concert by Donnie Vox.
Col. Timothy Edens, the brigade’s commander, said that of all the week’s events, he was most excited about Monday’s activation ceremony. The 1st Infantry Division’s 4th Brigade will have its colors cased at the ceremony, marking another key departure from Germany for the Big Red One.
“It’s a very visual statement,” said Edens, who once commanded the 4th Brigade.
On the leisure side, Edens said he’s looking forward to the spouses combat on Thursday, when spouses will don camouflage face paint, play paintball and run obstacle courses, among other team activities.
“It lets the spouses come out and do the things their [soldiers] do,” he said. “I see it as a great bonding event.”
