Raven operators do training to hone their skills

Photo By Pfc. David Hauk | Sgt. Everette Williams, a scout team leader, and Pvt. Marshal Rambo, also a Scout, both of whom are assigned to Troop B, 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, go over Raven operations at Fort Polk, La. March 30. A recertification course for Raven operators was part of the unit's current Joint Readiness Training Center rotation.  

FORT POLK, LOUISIANA, UNITED STATES

03.30.2009

Courtesy Story

4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs

FORT POLK, La. - A convoy headed down the road may not always see upcoming dangers like improvised explosive devices or enemy ambushes, but they do have the Raven flying high above and watching the road ahead to warn them before it is too late.

"The Raven is an unmanned aerial system with two cameras attached to it that can be used in theater to do numerous missions," explained Staff Sgt. Antoinette Fisher, a flight operations specialist with the Joint Readiness Training Center operations group plans and aviation.

Fisher provided recertification training to Raven operators from the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division during the unit's JRTC rotation at Fort Polk, La. March 30.

According to Staff Sgt. Brice Jackson, a combat aviation specialist for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th BCT, 82nd Abn. Div., the Raven can be used to do anything from a battle assessment on wreckage to scouting ahead.

"If there is a specific road leading in and out of the forward operating base, a Raven operator could use the Raven to look up and down the road everyday and check for anything out of the ordinary," explained the Oakland, Calif., native. "Or, if you know where the enemy is, a Raven could be sent out to assess their situation."

In order for the Paratroopers to be able to work properly with the Raven overseas, they must make sure they have the proper skills first, said Fisher.

"The purpose of the training today is to make sure the operators know the rules for flying at JRTC and to validate their previous training," Fisher explained. "Most of the Soldiers here just finished schooling for the Raven recently and only know the basics of how to operate the Raven and troubleshoot it. We want to make sure they have the training down and can successfully operate the Raven while they are here."

Spc. Jonathan Sy, an infantryman with Troop C, 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th BCT, 82nd Abn. Div., thought the training was very helpful.

"The training is useful because it gives the operators a chance to familiarize themselves even more with the equipment," said Sy, who is originally from San Diego. "It is always good when you can fly to make yourself better with the controls."

After not flying the Raven for a while, Sgt. Ryan Chiasson, an intelligence analyst with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 321st Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 4th BCT, 82nd Abn. Div., said it was nice to go out and fly the Raven around.

"It has been a little while since I have been able to fly the Raven," explained Chiasson, a native of Thibodeaux, La. "It's also fun to show the other guys I can still throw the Raven harder than them."

Chiasson also talked about how useful the Raven is overseas.

"In the parts of Afghanistan I was in, you needed a lot of coverage for the ground troops," Chiasson said, "and the Raven does a great job at providing that."

• Date Taken: 03.30.2009
• Date Posted: 04.11.2009 16:58
• Story ID: 32287
• Location: FORT POLK, LOUISIANA, US