Pa. Guard aviation brigade lifts spouses

Photo By 2nd Lt. Kate Kramer | U.S. Soldiers with the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade host a Spouse Lift event for spouses of the brigade’s Soldiers. Spouses were given tours of the brigade’s flight facilities and flights in CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters as a token of appreciation for their support. The event was held at the brigade’s flight facilities at Muir Army Airfield at Fort Indiantown Gap and John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport at Johnstown. Participants at Fort Indiantown Gap were given flights around the greater Harrisburg, Hershey and Blue Mountain area. Participants at Johnstown were given flights around the scenic Laurel Highlands of the Alleghenies.  

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PA, UNITED STATES

10.18.2022

Story by Capt. Travis Mueller 

Joint Force Headquarters - Pennsylvania National Guard

Spouses of soldiers with the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade were given a unique opportunity to fly in the brigade’s helicopters during a Spouse Lift event here, Oct. 15, 2022.

Spouses were given tours of the brigade’s flight facilities before taking flight in CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters as a token of appreciation for their support and to give them a taste of what their soldiers do while on duty.

“The goal of this event was to show the military spouses that they are valued and appreciated,” said Capt. Nathan Bevans, the 28th ECAB’s training officer. “The event was a great way to give back to the spouses for the sacrifices they make.”

The event was held concurrently at the brigade’s flight facilities at Muir Army Airfield at Fort Indiantown Gap and John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport at Johnstown. Participants at Fort Indiantown Gap were given 30-minute flights around the greater Harrisburg, Hershey and Blue Mountain area. Participants at Johnstown were given flights around the scenic Laurel Highlands of the Alleghenies.

“This event was amazing, amazing, amazing!” said Cheryl Adams, wife of Chief Warrant Officer 5 Rich Adams. “I’ve never done anything like this and I’m so glad I got to be a part of this.”

In the past three years, families of the 28th ECAB have stood behind their soldiers as they have been called up for COVID-19 mitigation efforts, civil unrest, natural disasters and yearlong deployments to the Middle East.

The event was open to spouses whose soldiers recently joined the brigade as well, and offered an opportunity for them to interact.

“This was such a cool thing that the unit did,” said Ramsey Snider, husband of 2nd Lt. Kate Kramer. “I was grateful to be included even though my wife is new to the unit.”

The 28th ECAB is a heavy aviation unit of the Pennsylvania National Guard and one of four brigades in the 28th Infantry Division. It provides aviation assets for both federal and state active duty missions. ECAB aviators fly the UH -60 Black Hawk, UH-72 Lakota and CH-47 Chinook helicopters. The ECAB headquarters is at Muir Army Airfield at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania.

• Date Taken: 10.18.2022
• Date Posted: 10.18.2022 10:36
• Story ID: 431541
• Location: FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PA, US