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RODRIGUEZ LIVE FIRE COMPLEX, South Korea - It is like that one employee who’s given the company decades of great service, but it’s time to move on and retire. He’s got the skills and the years of experience, but by stepping aside, he opens the door for the future. His team gives him a small going away party, one last meaningful mission, and the chapter ends.
This story mirrors that of the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter, and the dedicated crew that operates the historic scout reconnaissance aircraft. A version of the Kiowa has been in continuous service since 1969, but the end began in March 2014, when it was decided that the aging veteran would be replaced by the younger, more technologically advanced AH-64 Apache helicopter and other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).
This left Kiowa pilots and crews in limbo as to what the future held for them. The Department of the Army selected many for retraining on other aircraft, with most sent to work with the Apache. Some pilots and crews chose to leave the Army rather than move to a new aircraft.
But one small group got the opportunity to host the retirement party of sort, the final mission. In June 2016, pilots and crews from the 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, arrived in South Korea as part of the last deployment of the Kiowa’s in U.S. Army service.
During the nine-month rotation with the 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division, the Kiowa’s are conducting critical reconnaissance missions and support in northern parts of South Korea.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Aaron Montgomery, a Kiowa pilot with 1-17 CAV, has only flown Kiowa’s after first serving as a crew chief on the UH-60 Blackhawk.
“This is the one I grew up with as a pilot, and the one that I’m definitely going to wish was still around,” said Montgomery. “I think it’s a role that’s tough to fill with UAV’s but that’s what the Army’s going to do; it’s a little bittersweet.”
As one of the last Kiowa pilots, Montgomery has chosen to retire instead of moving to another aircraft.
For Spc. Samantha Bean, an armament/electrical/avionics system repairer on the Kiowa, the feelings were similar. Selected to move over to the Apache after this training rotation is complete, she said she would miss working on the Kiowa.
“I have grown accustomed to and very fond of the Kiowa, especially when it’s your first job,” said Bean. “It’s always been a challenge, but it’s a fun one. You get to learn something new every day.”
Bean said she thought the Kiowa was a good support aircraft for ground forces.
“They’re quick, they’re down and up, rearmed and refueled within a matter of minutes,” said Bean. “The pilots have developed good communication with ground units.”
The crew said the Kiowa’s are scheduled to be sold, destroyed or taken apart for scrap and parts once the unit returns to its home-station of Fort Bragg, N.C.
“It’s good to be here (in Korea), but it’s sad of course that we’re seeing the end of something we have had in the Army for years now,” said Montgomery.
| Date Taken: | 09.01.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 02.26.2017 20:19 |
| Story ID: | 224927 |
| Location: | CAMP RED CLOUD, KR |
| Web Views: | 67 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Going Out with a bang, by SSG Robert Larson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
