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    The long journey home

    The long journey home

    Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Banzhaf | A Soldier with Company A, 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment,...... read more read more

    FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

    05.18.2015

    Story by Sgt. Brandon Banzhaf 

    3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

    FORT IRWIN, Calif. —A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter shutters against the strong winds, and some of its passengers got a bit nervous.

    Even so, the two crewmen sitting behind the pilots remain unnerved.

    Perhaps they had nerves of steel or were accustomed to the turbulence, or perhaps they were just intensely focused on their mission — going home.

    The 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade “Warriors,” 1st Cavalry Division flew various types of aircraft back to Fort Hood, Texas, after completing their National Training Center rotation at Fort Irwin, California, May 11.

    “Coming home is always the better trip,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Joseph Moseley. “Generally, there is a tailwind with the winds coming from the west. So instead of flying against the winds to get [to NTC], we were flying with it on the way back. It’s like we are being pushed back home.”

    The pilots flew about 1,100 miles, passing through Arizona and New Mexico to make an overnight stop at Fort Bliss, Texas. After some rest, they took off toward Fort Hood, where their Families were waiting.

    What might appear to be a long, monotonous journey is actually quite pleasant for these Warriors. The opportunity to fly and travel boosts crew morale and camaraderie.

    “That’s one of the cool things about aviation,” said Spc. Bryan Pentz, a Littleton, Ohio, native and UH-60 Black Hawk crewmember with 3-227th. “We are more close knit than other units. Once, we stopped for the night, and we went out as a group and ate some steaks.”

    As the formation of Black Hawks landed at each pit stop, two crewmembers, each on separate but parallel aircraft, face each other and start to play a game.

    Rock, paper, scissors… shoot.

    After a couple of rounds, smiles broke out from underneath the mirror-like visors on their helmets.

    Once they stopped rolling, everyone gathered his belongings and performed after-flight inspections and procedures. When they were all happy with their bird’s condition, they headed into a building similar to a clubhouse at a golf course.

    Greeted with smiles, the crews kicked their feet up and stretched as their aircraft was refueled.

    “The reception is awesome,” said Pentz. “Once they know that we are coming, they deliver a lot of food and drinks. Some have a room where we can rest and watch a movie.”
    When the birds were ready to go, the crews got back to work. They doubled checked the aircraft and then took off – toward their homes and families.

    “The morale is pretty good,” said Moseley. “Everybody is happy that they are heading home. There is a tightness that is created every time you are in the suck together.”

    The crews don’t always work in the same team. They are paired up based on the amount of experience each Soldier possesses.

    Getting the right mixture of new and seasoned Soldiers is key to keeping the flights smooth and mistake free.

    “They will mix those who have a lot of flight hours with those who have more or less,” said Pentz. “But they don’t put two new guys on the same crew. But everyone is friendly, so it doesn’t matter who we work with.”

    Once the formation reached Fort Bliss, the crews powered down not only their aircraft, but also themselves. Pilots are required to get a certain amount of sleep before and in between flights.

    Some immediately went to sleep when they got to their hotel room, and others took another opportunity to eat before turning in for the evening. Either way, morning came early for all of them. Everyone was back up and at the flight line by 7 a.m.

    While on the last half of the trip home, the previously sunny weather took an unpleasant turn. The group of helicopters had to make an unexpected stop to find an alternate route.

    “If there is a chance we can get home safely, we will take it,” said Pentz.

    After carefully planning multiple routes around the storm, the six Black Hawks took off, trying to make it through a small window of decent weather before an impending, larger storm could force them to extend their trip a few days.

    With only a few moments of mild turbulence, the group of birds made it to the last stretch.

    After finally landing on their own flight line, the crew was relieved to be back at home.

    “I’m going to relax, hang out with my friends, and get some good food,” said Pfc. William Parker, a Scottsboro, Alabama, native and crew member with less then 50 hours of flight time.

    Some will celebrate with friends, while others will spend time with their families. One thing is for sure after the month-long NTC training exercise – there’s no place like home.

    “I love and miss them,” said Moseley. “I can’t wait to get home and spend time with my kids.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 05.18.2015
    Date Posted: 05.18.2015 12:28
    Story ID: 163662
    Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US
    Hometown: SCOTTSBORO, AL, US

    Web Views: 72
    Downloads: 0

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