Photo By Spc. Ryan Reed | A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 147th Aviation...... read more read more
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BOONE, Iowa – Soldiers from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 147th Aviation Regiment, Iowa Army National Guard, based in Boone, conducted a UH-60 Black Hawk flight mission April 3, 2025.
The mission involved low-flying procedures and served as a preparatory exercise for a Joint Readiness Training Center rotation scheduled for June at Fort Johnson, Louisiana.
The Joint Readiness Training Center is one of the Army’s premier training events, designed to simulate a full-scale combat environment. It allows units from across the country to train in realistic scenarios and sharpen skills tied to their military occupational specialties.
“Our mission is primarily air assault,” said 1st Lt. Thomas Bertrand, a 24-year-old Black Hawk pilot. “We pick up infantry Soldiers and move them to a landing zone so they can continue practicing combat maneuvers.”
Training for Company C has been in the works for nearly two years. Ultimately, it is building toward JRTC to ensure the unit is fully trained and mission-ready.
The April 3 mission served as a local area orientation flight. It familiarized pilots with routes they will use during future training, including JRTC. Unlike typical Black Hawk flights, which maintain altitudes around 500 feet, this mission required flying below the tree line and along a riverbed to simulate a combat environment.
Bertrand, a recent flight school graduate from South Sioux City, Nebraska, enjoys the challenge of being a pilot. He said he was drawn to aviation for the opportunity to diversify his skill set and the complexity of the role.
“In my opinion, the more challenging a job is, the more rewarding it is to do well,” Bertrand said.
Bertrand’s mindset reflects the professionalism and dedication that define Company C. With JRTC approaching, the unit stands mission-ready, prepared to execute complex air assault operations and apply the skills honed through months of focused training.
| Date Taken: | 04.03.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.24.2025 18:14 |
| Story ID: | 498011 |
| Location: | IOWA, US |
| Web Views: | 95 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Iowa Army National Guard Aviation Soldiers Prepare for JRTC Rotation, by SPC Ryan Reed, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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