Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Kimberly Calkins | U.S. Army Staff Sgt. James Parrott, a crewmember with Alpha Company, 2-149th General...... read more read more
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – Charlie Company, 4th Battalion, 118th Infantry Regiment (IN BN), 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB), caught a ride from Alpha Company, 2-149th General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB) aboard four UH-60L Black Hawk Air Assault helicopters, flying the Soldiers to annual training at McCrady Training Center, July 12, 2014.
“It is providing a transportation route to our mission instead of piling onto a bus, which doesn’t provide training value,” said Capt. Alex DeSeta, Charlie Company commander. “It would take approximately 16 vehicles to drive to annual training.”
When Infantrymen are not transported by air, they travel by other military vehicles or trek on foot. Approximately 64 Soldiers assigned to Charlie Company, 4-118th IN BN, ruck marched with 35 pounds of equipment from their Mt. Pleasant armory to the landing zone at Patriots Point Soccer Stadium. Upon arrival, they continued training by setting up a secure perimeter around the soccer fields.
“On a normal drill weekend we have been including a ruck march, rucking approximately 3 to 4 miles as a platoon,” said Spc. Matthew Brown, a team leader for 3rd Platoon. “This is different, something we haven’t done before when leaving for annual training.”
Family and friends were invited to the soccer stadium to watch Soldiers train in preparation for the landing of the Black Hawks. The large crowd also captured a close up view of the helicopters.
“I think it’s great to do this in a public area and it gives us a better appreciation for what they do, wearing all that gear in this heat,” said Andy Page, friend of Sgt. 1st Class Terry Pansing. “It was very nice to invite us so the kids can watch, it will be a memorable experience.”
Another family member, retired helicopter pilot Chief Warrant Officer 3 Timothy Holmes Sr., observed his son during the training.
“He is enjoying this unit and the people he has met, they have been a good influence on him,” said Holmes. “It’s good for him to have this experience.”
“It will be fun to fly in a helicopter,” agrees Pfc. Timothy Holmes Jr., as he prepared for his first Black Hawk ride.
Coordination for the moving pieces was another portion of training for Charlie Company, requesting movement by air through 4-118th IN BN air operations, and subsequently with Alpha Company, 2-149th GSAB.
“We started coordinating a few weeks out, watching the weather and making sure the landing zone was ready,” said Capt. Brad Fickett, Alpha Company, 2-149th GSAB, medevac detachment commander. “This is a tremendous training opportunity for aviation.”
Local arrangements were also made, coordinating with the city of Mt. Pleasant, the Mt. Pleasant Recreation Center, the College of Charleston, and the State of South Carolina.
After the Black Hawks landed, Soldiers conducted loading and unloading drills with16 Alpha Company, 2-149th GSAB crewmembers before flying to annual training.
“It improves my opinion of my experience in the Guard,” said Spc. Harold Sears III, an M249 light machine gunner. “That’s why I joined, to ruck and ride in helicopters.”
| Date Taken: | 07.31.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 07.31.2014 21:40 |
| Story ID: | 137949 |
| Location: | CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 400 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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