Photo By Sgt. Joshua Matthews | Spouses of Soldiers belonging to 1st Attack/Reconnaissance Battalion, 211th Aviation...... read more read more
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by U.S. Army Cadet Joshua Matthews
WEST JORDAN, Utah – The 1st Attack/Reconnaissance Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment, “The Air Pirates”, conducted a spouse orientation flight event for the unit’s spouses May 24, 2022, at South Valley Regional Airport in West Jordan, Utah.
Spouses of the unit took to the skies inside one of two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters that were piloted and manned by Utah National Guard aviators of the 2nd Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment.
In accordance with Army Regulation 95-1, which authorizes special use flights, the spouses received a preliminary safety brief, high-quality ear protection, and familiarization with the aircraft’s safety procedures.
Once all proper safety measures had been met, the spouses loaded up the aircraft and were ready to fly. The pilots and crew members took their excited passengers on 20-minute flights through Utah’s revered Wasatch Mountain Range, where they were able to experience world-class aerial views including Big Cottonwood Canyon, Parley’s Canyon, and the Great Salt Lake.
Aviators of the unit emphasized just how important the event was to them, as it was a unique opportunity to thank their spouses for the support they’ve been shown throughout their Army careers.
“It was a really unique opportunity to show our great appreciation to these spouses for all they’ve sacrificed,” said Sgt. 1st Class Scott Jones, a senior aviator with the 1-211th ARB. “It was so good to see them honored this way.”
As the flights concluded, spouses were reunited with their soldiers and with smiling faces shared their experiences of the event.
“It was incredible,” said Kristin Jones, one of the spouses who participated in the event. “It was so cool to see the skill level of the pilots as we flew through the canyons.”
The event served as a chance for aviators of the 1-211th to not only show appreciation to their spouses, but also a way to give them a glimpse into the realm of Army aviation.
“The goal was to expose our spouses to what we do as aviators,” said Maj. Vasquez, commander of the 1-211th ARB. “Everything from flight operations, to maintenance, to the actual flying of the aircraft. Then we put them in an aircraft and take them on a flight through the local area. It was a great time; I’ve seen a lot of smiling faces today.”
| Date Taken: | 05.24.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 06.21.2022 13:55 |
| Story ID: | 422282 |
| Location: | UTAH, US |
| Web Views: | 92 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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