A company of Wheeler Army Airfield soldiers with about 12 CH-47 Chinook helicopters is deploying to Afghanistan, following a similar departure by members of the Hawaii Army National Guard in April.

Fewer than 100 soldiers with Wheeler’s B Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment “Hillclimbers” were part of a deployment ceremony June 5 prior to a planned nine months’ duty in Operation Resolute Support.

The company received a short-notice order to deploy, the Army said.

“I’m amazed by these soldiers for everything they’ve accomplished in such a short amount of time,” Lt. Col. Jacob Miller, the 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation commander, said in an Army news story.

The big twin-rotor Chinooks have always been the workhorse of Afghanistan, able to fly troops and equipment fast, at high altitude and with the ability to conduct drop-offs and pickups on craggy ridgelines.

The company will support the NATO mission focusing on training, advising and assisting Afghan National Defense Forces, the Army said.

In April, a deployment ceremony was held for about 80 citizen soldiers with the Hawaii Army National Guard’s B Company, 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment, who also will operate in Afghanistan with a dozen Chinooks.

The United States still has about 15,000 troops in Afghanistan more than 16 years after the initial Operation Enduring Freedom began in 2001.