Photo By Pfc. Nathan Arellano Tlaczani | A UH-60 Black Hawk takes off during air defense and survivability training at Babadag...... read more read more
Subscribe
BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania — U.S. Soldiers assigned to Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 52d Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, and members of the 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, conduct air defense and survivability training at Babadag Training Area, Romania, Dec. 17, 2024.
“The training we are doing today is a joint training exercise with local aviation assets with a focus on increasing combat effectiveness of both units,” said 1st Lt. Gabbi McElyea, assigned to Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 52d Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command.
This training aims to strengthen air and missile defense capabilities through the rapid deployment of dismounted air defense crews using Stinger missiles, designed to counter low-altitude threats and secure NATO airspace, while at the same time test helicopter pilots on evading radar detection and subsequent threats.
“On our end we have our Avenger crew who are dismounted and working on our Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems (MANPADS) proficiency and tracking as well as conducting practice engagements with the pilots,” said McElyea. “The pilots are working on how to identify where our crew are and also how to evade them.”
The joint training exercise serves as a way to improve standard operating procedures as well as tactics and techniques for both units while showing the U.S. Army’s commitment to defending allied airspace through training and building readiness.
“When in the Avenger, should the system go down, we have the capabilities to dismount and take the stinger out and go to a MANPAD configuration," said McElyea. “This increases their survivability and also increases the ability to maneuver and adapt to different circumstances on the battlefield.”
From the aviation perspective, 3-227 AHB gained realistic training involving a MANPAD threat, allowing them to practice combat maneuvering flight tactics in the air and close to the ground where “we like to stay to survive enemy threats,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jake Miller, a UH-60M Black Hawk pilot and aviation mission survivability officer (AMSO) assigned to 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.
“My favorite part as the AMSO is training combat aviators… I enjoy pushing the aircraft near its limit so that I can expose the junior aviators to what that feels like,” said Miller. “It was super valuable for them because it's not a lot of times they get to do combat maneuvering flights.”
Joint training exercises such as this, whether it’s with American forces or host nation allies, is always important because it further shows the U.S. Army’s commitment to remaining ready.
“Being able to train in Romania is fantastic, the Romanians have been nothing but hospitable and welcoming for us,” says Miller. “We have been able to train in very different environments, from the mountains near Brașov to the plains here near Constanța.”
V Corps return to Europe allows U.S. Army forces to support more exercises and training with our allies and partners while increasing readiness and the ability to deter potential adversaries. This enhances security in the region and reassures our NATO allies and partners of the U.S. commitment to NATO and its partners in Europe.
“Our main mission being here is just to always be prepared to defend NATO’s Eastern flank should that call come. So, this is just our way to remain committed and always be prepared for that call,” said McElyea
| Date Taken: | 12.17.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 12.23.2024 08:26 |
| Story ID: | 488060 |
| Location: | BABADAG TRAINING AREA, RO |
| Web Views: | 19 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Stronger Together — 1-57 ADAR and 3-227 AHB conduct Air Defense and Survivability Training, by PFC Nathan Arellano Tlaczani, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
