Photo By Spc. Paul Berzinas | Soldiers from Company B, 777th Aviation Support Battalion (Detachments 1,2,3) conduct...... read more read more
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WAHAIWA, Hawaii - Soldiers from Company B, 777th Aviation Support Battalion (including Detachments 1, 2 and 3), conducted Downed Aircraft Recovery Team training June 12, 2015 at Schofield Barracks.
The exercise was intended to prepare the various components of the 777th ASB to work together to recover a disabled aircraft when deployed, said Spc. Tobias Vidaurri, a CH-47 Chinook mechanic from Company B.
Company B has received a notification of sourcing for a deployment in the near future. The last time the unit deployed was in 2012, when it was sent to Kosovo. The last three times the 777th ASB has deployed, it hasn’t done so with its detachments. The scheduled deployment will be the company’s first deployment with Detachments 1, 2 and 3.
Consequently, this annual training is the first one the unit has conducted with the detachments.
Company B consists of Army National Guard units from Wyoming, Virginia, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, all of whom were present for the training, said Vidaurri.
“It’s very important for us to know what we are doing when we go in country,” said Vidaurri. “So for us to have a chance to get hands-on [training] aside from our regular drill days, I feel like this is an invaluable experience.”
The DART exercise was an important step in improving the mission-readiness of the company, said Sgt. Kalen Komoda, an aircraft structural repairer from Company B.
As a whole, the DART training will enable the unit to react effectively to an actual downed aircraft situation, if ever one arises, said Vidaurri.
“In our training environment we don’t have to worry about any hostile forces coming and attempting to take the helicopter from us,” said Vidaurri. “That may not be the case in country though.”
The DART training was designed to teach the company to move quickly to recover a downed aircraft, which is critical to reducing the amount of time spent in harm’s way, said Vidaurri.
“Right now what we’re working on is trying to hone our skills to the point where we can get in and get out with a minimal amount of time spent being exposed,” said Vidaurri.
The training was important because it brought soldiers from different areas together.
“I’m from Maui, so I only see these soldiers once a month,” said Komoda. “So this training is really good for giving me a sense of how things are run.”
Involving soldiers from multiple geographic locations is an important aspect of preparing the company, said Vidaurri.
“We do get to meet new people during this time and we get to make new friends, which is important for when we go on deployments,” said Vidaurri. “It’s good to know someone that can have your back while you’re out there.”
Training as a company gives soldiers from different places valuable experience working together to accomplish the mission, said Vidaurri.
“In country it’s very important that everyone work together,” said Vidaurri. “It’s like a well-oiled machine, like a Chinook, if one part is out of place, then we won’t be able to run.”
| Date Taken: | 06.12.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.16.2015 22:07 |
| Story ID: | 166916 |
| Location: | WAHIAWA, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 1,031 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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