Photo By Brian Godette | Soldiers with the North Carolina Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 130th Airfield...... read more read more
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Large monitor screens displaying high-resolution graphics in a dim-lighted room. Headsets hugging ears while used to communicate about aircraft operations displayed on a radar screens.
This isn’t the scene of a group of friends playing online video games, instead it is Soldiers assigned to the North Carolina Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 130th Airfield Operations Regiment, conducting simulated air traffic control scenarios at Simmons Army Airfield, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, June 7, 2015.
“Our Soldiers are using simulators that we use on a regular basis, so we can evaluate them on the proficiencies and positions that they are already qualified on, and other real-world applications,” said Staff Sgt. Jacob Ebert, a platoon sergeant with the 2-130th AOB.
The group of aviation Soldiers were broken up into two teams. One team was monitoring and controlling the radar system, which can be set up on a fixed service and control air traffic during hazardous conditions. The other team was manning the air traffic control tower system.
“Air traffic control is a perishable skill and this training allows them to maintain that proficiency on drill weekends, so that when we roll into annual training, they are ready to go,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jason Fleeman, a Soldier assigned to the 2-130th AOB.
The simulation training provided that real-world aspect for many of the newer Soldiers and also created a familiar feel for those who have deployed previously.
“In theatre we had coalition aircrafts, NATO aircrafts, aircraft calls from every corner. Some pilots get lost, some pilots need help to get to the ground and we bring them to the ground safe and sound. The simulation here is just like in theatre,” said Spc. Justin Bethel, a Soldier assigned to the 2-130th AOB.
The benefits of the simulation training provided a comforting refresher for Bethel and other Soldiers in the unit.
“When we actually have to answer the call of duty, we know what we’re doing, where we’re doing it, and how to do it,” Bethel said.
For many of the more experienced Soldiers going through the training, one particular hurdle called “mic fright” came to mind when focusing on initial challenges.
“Mic fright is when a Soldier keys up the mic and you just get stuck, because it’s the first time you are talking over the radio to a pilot,” Bethel said. “Sometimes we only have seconds, even nanoseconds, to make a decision, especially in an emergency, so mic fright has no place in mission readiness.”
The intricate, real-world training performed by the 2-130th’s Soldiers not only assists them with military advancement, it can be translated into the civilian work force
“I actually got to go through a CTO, control tower operator six-month program, which gives you real life training that transfers over into the civilian world,” said Sgt. Tanika Smith, a Soldier assigned to the 2-130th. “I actually work as a civilian controller, because of my Guard job.”
In the end, the game-like experience translated into real world training that prepared and tested the North Carolina Guard Soldiers to remain ready and relevant to answer the state or federal call of duty.
| Date Taken: | 06.08.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.19.2015 10:12 |
| Story ID: | 167280 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 129 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, NCNG air traffic control Soldiers train to sustain, by Brian Godette, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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