Pennsylvania Army, Air National Guard conduct joint training

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Zane Craig | Approximately 25 U.S. Soldiers and Airmen with the Pennsylvania National Guard work together Oct. 13 to load a UH-60M Blackhawk helicopter onto a C-17 cargo aircraft and transport it from Army Aviation Support Facility in Johnstown, Pa., to Pittsburgh and back. This training prepares the Guardsmen to efficiently fold the helicopter, load it into a cargo aircraft, and transport it in support of domestic operations or overseas deployment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Zane Craig)  

JOHNSTOWN, PA, UNITED STATES

10.17.2023

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Zane Craig 

Joint Force Headquarters - Pennsylvania National Guard

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Approximately 25 U.S. Soldiers and Airmen with the Pennsylvania National Guard worked together Oct. 13 to load a UH-60M Blackhawk helicopter onto a C-17 cargo aircraft and transport it from Army Aviation Support Facility in Johnstown, Pa., to Pittsburgh and back.

Soldiers from several Pennsylvania National Guard units worked to fold the helicopter and prepare it for transport over several days, while Airmen with the 171st Air Refueling Wing inspected and measured the Blackhawk and helped load it onto the C-17, which they crewed.

“A few years ago, some of us were activated for Hurricane Maria, and they had to load it into a C-17 and fly it down to Puerto Rico,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Steven Zerbini, a maintenance test pilot who led the Army Guard part of the mission.

The operation in support of Hurricane Maria relief almost exactly six years ago in 2017 is the last time the Pennsylvania National Guard performed this task. Therefore, this was the first time doing this process for most of the personnel involved in the exercise.

“This is a training event, whether it’s for domestic operations or overseas, so that we can fold the aircraft, load it into a C-17, and be ready for anything,” said Zerbini.

The Pennsylvania National Guard is one of the largest and most deployed National Guards in the nation. In addition to its federal mission, the Pennsylvania National Guard responds to domestic emergencies, working with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, U.S. Northern Command and dozens of federal, state and local agencies.

“Members of the Air Guard from the 171st came yesterday to inspect the aircraft and make sure it was portable and it worked great, their crew was awesome,” said Zerbini. “There were a few things we had to tweak, but the crew here at this facility did a great job.”

Joint training boosts the effectiveness of the entire force and builds the kind of cooperation and flexibility necessary for interoperability with partners and allies everywhere.

The whole process of flying to Pittsburgh, unloading the helicopter, reloading it into the same plane, flying it back to Johnstown, unload it, and get it back to flying condition took the entire day and into the evening.

• Date Taken: 10.17.2023
• Date Posted: 10.18.2023 08:19
• Story ID: 455987
• Location: JOHNSTOWN, PA, US