Photo By Spc. Kelly Widner | U.S Army Staff Sgt. Charles R. Woodruff and U.S. Army Sgt. Josh Johner, both assigned...... read more read more
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EDNEYVILLE, N.C. – As the fog rolls off the mountainous region of Western North Carolina, Soldiers of the North Carolina National Guard’s Security and Support aviation unit, also known as Detachment 1, Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 151st Aviation Regiment, suspend flight operations until the cloudy, gray sky clears from the North Carolina Western Justice Academy in Edneyville, North Carolina, June 3, 2015.
As the sky begins to clear, Staff Sgt. Charles R. Woodruff, checks his individual gear and prepares for the day’s aviation hoist training alongside his fellow crewmembers.
During hoist training, Soldiers are tasked with stepping outside the aircraft onto the skid of the aircraft and lowering a cable to a designated spot, which replicates a real-life rescue mission. Soldiers must relay clear and concise commands to the flight crew to ensure that everyone is aware of the step-by-step procedures to complete the mission successfully.
Woodruff spent four years on active-duty with the Air Force before switching to the Army National Guard in 2001.
Originally from Ohio, Woodruff moved to Massachusetts and deployed with the Massachusetts National Guard’s Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, to Afghanistan before transferring to the NC Guard’s S&S unit in October of 2014 as a helicopter repairman (15T).
“I had my choice between continuing to work with Black Hawks in Salisbury, North Carolina, or learning a whole new airframe with the LUH-72 Lakota at S&S and I chose the Lakota,” said Woodruff.
Being around aircraft since the age of sixteen, it is no surprise that Woodruff chose to be part of the Army’s aviation career field.
“Helicopters are fascinating aircraft. Since the first day of Advanced Individual Training, I have enjoyed what I do immensely,” said Woodruff.
Although Woodruff has always had the desire to fly, heights still have an impact on him.
“It’s a job I have to do,” said Woodruff, “I put my trust in the maintainers and my crew.”
Each time Woodruff steps out on the skid of the aircraft, he pushes his fear aside for the sake of the mission.
After spending the majority of his military career maintaining UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, Woodruff is adjusting smoothly to the different operations associated with the Lakota.
“No matter what part of aviation you come from, everyone is trained to the same standards,” said Woodruff, “We should be able to climb into virtually any aircraft and operate together.”
| Date Taken: | 06.05.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.19.2015 10:59 |
| Story ID: | 167294 |
| Location: | EDNEYVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 142 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Over the edge: Career aviation soldier conducts hoist training, by SPC Kelly Widner, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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