Photo By Sarah Zaler | A Wisconsin National Guard RQ7B Shadow, an unmanned aerial vehicle, takes off on an...... read more read more
CAMP WAINWRIGHT, Alberta, Canada – With the flip of a switch, a RQ-7B Shadow propelled off the end of its launcher at more than 80 miles per hour as the Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers who prepared the unmanned aerial vehicle for flight watched it trail off into the clearing sky above Camp Wainwright.
More than 650 U.S. Army Soldiers will sharpen their individual skill sets and enhance overall unit readiness while supporting Maple Resolve 17, the Canadian Army’s premier brigade-level validation exercise running May 14-29.
Detachment 1, Company D, 173rd Brigade Engineer Battalion, Tactical Unmanned Aerial System from Camp Williams, Wisconsin, is providing UAS coverage which allows the Canadian Army to practice requesting and clearing UAS into the airspace.
Sgt. James Schrader, an unmanned aircraft systems repairer from Adams, Wisconsin, is part of the team that ensures a successful launch. He said there is a long list of things to complete to get the UAV ready prior to launch including checking air speed, pressures and flight surfaces.
“There’s a lot of checks we have to do and a lot of procedures we have to go through to verify that the aircraft, the launcher, everything’s set and ready to go,” said Schrader.
Spc. Anthony Seebruck, an unmanned aircraft systems repairer from Necedah, Wisconsin, appreciates the realistic and challenging training environment that Maple Resolve 17 provides.
“We actually get to have people utilize us for what we’re meant for,” said Seebruck. “It’s nice.”
The exercise is a chance to show off their capabilities to others while sharpening their skills. Schrader said it validates their hard work and dedication to their job to have people watch them work.
“People really enjoy coming out here and watching this stuff,” said Schrader. “We feel good when we get a group while we’re out here doing this.”
Schrader said the role of UAVs is often misunderstood and training exercises like this educate people about the field, and what it brings to the military, so they can be properly utilized in future engagements.
“It’s really a good field to know,” said Schrader. “Just by having the knowledge that we can support your missions is a great thing.”
| Date Taken: | 05.18.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 05.18.2017 22:50 |
| Story ID: | 234399 |
| Location: | WAINWRIGHT, ALBERTA, CA |
| Hometown: | CAMP WILLIAMS, WISCONSIN, US |
| Web Views: | 198 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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