Fish and Wildlife get new digs, thanks to the ‘Hillclimbers’

Courtesy Photo | A CH-47D Chinook helicopter, assigned to B Company, "Hillclimbers," 3rd Battalion, 25th General Support Aviation Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, positions a sling-loaded connex into position at a landing zone seven miles east of Wheeler Army Airfield, in order to provide U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service workers an observation and preservation point to study Oahu’s endangered habitats in the Koolau Mountains, Feb. 1. (Army photo/Sgt. Karl Williams)  

WHEELER ARMY AIRFIELD, HI, UNITED STATES

03.01.2011

Courtesy Story

25th Combat Aviation Brigade

By Sgt. Karl Williams

WHEELER ARMY AIRFIELD, Hawaii – There are many unique animal species residing on the island of Oahu such as the Pueo, Hoary Bats, Oahu Creepers and the Oahu Tree Snail.

Aviators from B Company, “Hillclimbers,” 3rd Battalion, 25th General Support Aviation Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, conducted a sling-load operation to assist the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in studying the Oahu Tree Snail, Feb. 1.

The mission – transport a green-and-white, eight-by-eight-by-20 foot; 6,000 pound connex into the Oahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge, seven miles east of Wheeler Army Airfield for the USFWS. The USFWS frequently partners with the Army Natural Resources Department. As land owners in the Ko'olau Mountains, both are involved in invasive species control and endangered species management.

Jason Hanley, USFWS member and team leader for the Invasive Species Strike Team, explained why the remote area was chosen.

“It was selected due to its proximity to the location of target areas chosen for the removal and eradication of invasive species and the connex would serve as temporary shelter for the ISST.”

“The connex will replace the need for temporary basecamps and provide safety and shelter in an environment that is very extreme due to topography and weather,” said Hanley.

He noted that the connex would also provide the ISST with more time to eradicate an invasive species with less time monopolized by setting up and breaking down camp.

One challenge both organizations faced was accessibility to the remote location and the logistics of safely positioning the connex. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Brian Dutcher, a CH-47D Chinook pilot assigned to B Co., 3-25th GSAB, 25th CAB, explained how the Hillclimbers’ aircraft aided in overcoming the difficulties associated with relocating the connex.

“Sling-load operations overcame the challenges that would have made it impractical or impossible to transport the connex to the isolated area by any other means,” said Dutcher.

“With no roads and that terrain, sling-loading [the connex] was the only way they could have gotten it there.”

Dutcher also noted that in situations like this, hand-in-hand cooperation between the USFWS and 25th CAB shows that the U.S. Army can partner with the community.

“The Hillclimbers deserve recognition for their efforts and expertise,” said Hanley. “Their professionalism allowed for the mission to be carried out perfectly according to plan. Hats off to all of the [soldiers] involved.”

• Date Taken: 03.01.2011
• Date Posted: 03.02.2011 22:29
• Story ID: 66364
• Location: WHEELER ARMY AIRFIELD, HI, US