Photo By Kelly Morris | Students from three high schools within the Muscogee County school district Junior...... read more read more
FORT NOVOSEL, Ala. — Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps students from high schools in the Columbus, Ga., area visited the Home of Army Aviation to learn more about the branch Dec. 12, 2023.
The 26 students from Shaw High School, Kendrick High School, and Northside High School heard from Army Aviation subject matter experts, received an orientation flight in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, interacted with a drill sergeant, and flew in flight training simulators.
Retired Lt. Col. Herb Sanders, Jr., director of Army instruction for 12 high schools in the Muscogee County school district, said the goal for the visit was to inform and help prepare students for the future.
“We’ve heard a lot about the aviation world but we have one warrant officer that’s part of our JROTC program, he mentioned the ‘high school to flight school’ opportunity for kids, and some kids did not know they can leave high school and join the ranks of aviation and come in the military as a warrant once they complete the proper training.
“We just want to expose kids to the many opportunities that they could possibly have in life. College is not for everybody, so we talk specifically to our kids about the three E’s — being enrolled in college, potentially enlisting, and potentially having some type of employment. But we’re just trying to expose all of our kids to as many opportunities as we can for life after high school,” Sanders said.
The day began with an overview of Army aviation at the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence headquarters, that explained the various aircraft and mission sets within Army aviation including the Apache, Black Hawk, and Chinook helicopters, fixed wing and Unmanned Aircraft Systems, and maintenance. Topics included officer and enlisted paths into Army aviation, as well as the Warrant Officer Flight Training Program, current starting pay information, and included a question-and-answer session with experts.
Brochures made available to the students also provided an overview of Army aviation, flight school, what steps to take if they are interested in pursuing army aviation, and contact information.
Groups of students then took turns strapping into a Black Hawk helicopter for an orientation flight.
At Yano Hall, students received a briefing and tour of the Mobile Tower System from Staff Sgt. Joemal A. Jones, an equipment training instructor at Company C, 1-13th Aviation Regiment.
Students received a briefing about the USAACE training mission, its geographical footprint across Fort Novosel, Fort Huachuca, Ariz., and Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., the local flight training area including multiple base fields, stage fields and remote training sites, and the branch’s bottom line: relentless focus on supporting the warfighter on the ground.
They also heard from Staff Sgt. Katherine B. Ransom, a drill sergeant with Company A, 1-13th Aviation Regiment, about her experience in eight years of service to the nation.
“I love being a drill sergeant,” Ransom said. “I am able to see those who have graduated from BCT to come here so we can help get your job started, ensure that you guys know how to be disciplined, you know — the respect, the Army Values instilled in each and every one of you, before you depart to your units.”
Ransom wanted to become a drill sergeant because of a role model she had.
“I had a drill sergeant who motivated me to the fullest. She was like the top tier drill sergeant,” Ransom said. “She ran fast. I hate running, cardio is not my thing. But for some reason the techniques and the time that she set aside for me helped me, which now I want to pass down to help others on their journey.”
The students also were able to ask questions of a group of Soldiers who will soon graduate from Advanced Individual Training about the rigors of Army life and training.
Watching the AIT Soldiers graduate after successful completion of the training and become able to lead Soldiers in the right direction is “the best thing,” Ransom said. “They’ve come a long way.”
The students also had the opportunity to take the controls and fly in flight training simulators and visited the flight line and see the AH-64 Apache helicopters up close.
Sanders, who is a product of the JROTC, said he looks forward to continuing the relationship between Fort Novosel and the school district’s JROTC program in the future.
“I just believe junior ROTC affords kids a great opportunity to learn, to know and lead,” he said.
“This is a lifetime opportunity for some kids. Some kids may never fly in a helicopter again, but they can go back and tell the story to the other 2,000 kids about this opportunity and what’s right down the road here at Fort Novosel.”
| Date Taken: | 12.13.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 12.14.2023 17:48 |
| Story ID: | 459888 |
| Location: | FORT NOVOSEL, ALABAMA, US |
| Web Views: | 48 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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