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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, participated in Middle Tennessee State University’s 37th Annual Salute to Veterans and Armed Forces football game against Western Kentucky University.
Soldiers from D Company, 1-187th Inf. Regt., conducted an air movement Nov. 2 from Fort Campbell to a practice field adjacent to the Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium on the MTSU campus.
The Soldiers prepared for this mission in the weeks prior to game day by conducting rehearsals, refining tactical movements and ensuring that all of the multicomponent coordination was complete.
“Everything we do in the Army is done in a ‘crawl, walk, run’ scenario,” said Capt. Jack R. Folger, D Co., 1-187th Inf. Regt. commander. “Though the air movement to MTSU was simpler than an actual air assault [mission], my Soldiers and I still received good training value out of it.”
On the day of execution, the D Co. Soldiers boarded UH-60 Black Hawks provided by the Tennessee National Guard at Campbell Army Airfield and departed for Murfreesboro. As the aircraft landed, the Soldiers exited and established security at the landing zone as football fans, students and members of the MTSU community observed.
“From the rehearsals, to the [pickup zone] and [landing zone] operations, my Soldiers, some of which have never done an air assault, experienced what it takes to plan and prepare for one,” Folger said. “I’m extremely proud of them, and I’m confident that they are ready to move on to the ‘run’ phase of their training.”
After the demonstration, spectators at the static display spoke with D Co., 1-187th Inf. Regt., Soldiers, talked with the pilots and crew chiefs and took photos in and around the aircraft. Later that evening, the Soldiers assembled in the stadium’s north tunnel, then moved tactically across the stadium field under the cover of darkness while being cheered on by veterans, students and MTSU and WKU fans. Fireworks, smoke and propane-fueled flames added to the excitement of this highly-anticipated event. After handing the football to the referee, the unit’s squad leader signaled for the unit to displace, at which point Soldiers quickly exited the field to further cheers.
“We are most appreciative of the 101st for all the work that went into the game ball delivery. Their efforts really set the right tone for the game and added so much excitement,” said Hilary Miller, director of the Daniels Center at MTSU. “We look forward to working with these Soldiers in the future, both with athletics or any academic requests they might have.”
The Rakkasans have been planning this event for months, as they partner with Rutherford County, Tennessee, and Middle Tennessee State University as part of a community outreach initiative designed to build, sustain and engage with the residents and organizations which support Fort Campbell.
| Date Taken: | 11.02.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 01.31.2019 22:28 |
| Story ID: | 309103 |
| Location: | MURFREESBORO, TENNESSEE, US |
| Web Views: | 80 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 3rd Brigade Combat Team: MTSU salutes veterans, armed forces, by MAJ John Moore, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
