Air Assault Exercise Poster

AH-64 Apaches operated by the U.S. Army's 4th Battalion, 227th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), and Royal Saudi Land Forces (RSLF) personnel from 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Group,take off into the desert at the start of a practice air assault during Exercise Friendship and Iron Hawk 14 on April 12, 2014, near Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. <br Iron Hawk and Friendship 14 involved U.S. Army forces from the 42nd CAB, New York Army National Guard, and 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and Saudi Arabian ground and aviation forces. Over weeks of practice the two militaries focused on improving their joint operating capabilities, integrating infantry, armour, and aviation assets from both countries in the final event on April 13, 2014. <br The 42nd CAB, composed of National Guardsmen from New York, Michigan, Delaware, Indiana, and Kentucky, and soldiers from 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, is currently deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and conducts joint partnerships and exchanges with nations from across the region (New York Army National Guard photograph by Sgt. Harley Jelis).