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CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Far from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the distinct All American patches were clearly visible within a training area near Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Over the last couple of weeks, the troopers of 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, have been executing their aerial gunnery from their OH-58D Kiowa Warriors, which is essential to their role of supporting the ground forces commander.
“We are out here conducting our aerial gunnery,” said Lt. Col. Adam Frederick, commander, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade. “Aerial gunnery is an essential task that allows air crews to qualify on their weapons systems while properly identifying and engage those targets.”
Even though a controlled environment in a training area, this aerial gunnery serves as a validation to better support the ground troops.
“The cavalry exists to support the ground forces commander,” said Frederick. “We provide the security and reconnaissance for the ground forces. Aerial gunnery allows our pilots to continue to be proficient on their weapons systems. This way, when the ground forces commander calls for aviation support, we are able to employ our assets accurately and safely.”
Weeks before the pilots put any rounds on targets, maintainers and logisticians from the cavalry had to ensure the logistical and coordination with Camp Lejeune of their aerial gunnery exercise did not hamper the overall mission.
“One of our primary challenge was logistics,” said Frederick. “We had to move a lot of assets in order to properly and safely conduct this exercise.”
Even though in an unfamiliar environment, the troopers of the cavalry were not deterred but rather were up to the challenge to support this mission.
“Prior planning was important,” said Frederick. “We were working with a range control that we have never worked alongside. Different branches have their own specific guidelines on range operations, but the end state is the same; ensuring we properly and safely train our troops.”
Once the maintainers ensured the forward arming and refueling point was established, it was time for the OH-58 Kiowa Warriors to suppress and engage their simulated targets.
“As we come onto the range, we check in with our notional ground forces commander,” said Capt. Sean Godfrey, commander, Delta Troop, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade. “Once the ground forces commander gives our target and the munitions required, we go out and engage.”
Aerial gunnery was conducted with day and night iterations. During the night firing iterations, the air crews would either pass or fail as an aerial crew.
“Night firing is challenging, especially with limited light,” said Godfrey. “There are a lot of great things in the helicopter, such as infrared, that allow us to effectively engage targets at night.”
While the aerial gunnery not only tested pilot’s skills in engaging targets, this also allowed the squadron to work collectively as one unified team.
“Everyone, even those that behind the scenes, participates,” said Frederick. “There are maintenance, armament and sustainment operations going on that most don’t see. These things enable aerial gunnery to take place.”
As the commander of the aviation maintenance company for 1-17, Godfrey constantly interacted with his troopers to ensure smooth operations.
“My primary role is ensuring that we have trained forward arming and refueling point (FARP) personnel that can get the aircraft armed and fueled appropriately,” said Godfrey. “I am glad to see my troops’ work, and knowing that my troops helped arm and fuel the bird that makes this operation possible.”
The entire operation ensures that the ground forces commander gets assets that are trained and proficient in their tasks. Aerial gunnery serves as one of the major training events to ensure the cavalry is mission ready.
“The ground forces commander requires and deserves the best aviation support,” said Godfrey. “This operation ensures that we can deliver those services.”
| Date Taken: | 03.22.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.27.2015 14:49 |
| Story ID: | 158369 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 98 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, The Air Cavalry lights up the sky over Camp Lejeune, by Christopher Freeman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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