By Sgt. Sarah Scully
40th Public Affairs Detachment
CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait— They might speak Spanish, but they're American troops.
Flying across the desert, Puerto Rican UH-60 Black Hawk pilots and crew chiefs put their experience to use by supporting senior leaders of Third Army/U.S. Army Central.
About 40 Soldiers from the Puerto Rico National Guard are members of 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation Regiment at Camp Buehring in Kuwait.
Tasked with high-profile missions of flying top-ranking generals and command sergeants major to combat zone destinations, the crews have made full use of their above average flying times and experience, said 1st Sgt. Javier Resto, Co. A first sergeant.
"Our mission is to make things happen and get people in the right place at the right time," said Sgt. Jose Sostre, a Black Hawk crew chief. "It's demanding – every job has its own risks."
The "Islanders" of Company A have a unique trait – they come from a territory, not a state.
In fact, they often run into Soldiers who do not know that Puerto Rico even has a National Guard unit.
"They find it weird because Puerto Rico is not a state," said Sostre, a Black Hawk crew chief. "But we serve America, too."
America gained responsibility of Puerto Rico's military protection after the 1898 Treaty of Paris halted the Spanish-American War.
More than 10,000 Puerto Ricans now serve in the PRNG.
Some Soldiers joined up because of family tradition, others answered a call to duty after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and many Co. A Soldiers volunteered to deploy and support the fight against terrorism.
"It's just the motivation they have," said Capt. Rey Fontanez, Co. A commander and Black Hawk pilot.
"They're here because they want to be here, and they love what they do."
Deployed to Kuwait for the past two months, the pilots have had challenges adjusting to the desert terrain.
They're used to a more tropical climate with significant landmarks, but in the Kuwaiti and Iraqi deserts, they often do not have points of reference – particularly while flying in the dark with night vision goggles to help them see.
"It has been a challenge," said Resto. "It just takes training and getting used to the environment."
Soaring above miles of desert, looking over hundreds of Kuwaiti camping tents and seeing the flames of oil refineries in the distance, the Black Hawk crews acquire a different view of the country other Soldiers rarely have a chance to appreciate.
"You get to see stuff most people don't get to see," said Sostre. "You can see things from a different perspective."
The hard-working, experienced and disciplined Soldiers still have time to enjoy their culture thousands of miles away from home, said Fontanez.
They speak to each other in a Puerto Rican dialect – a mixture of Spanish and Latin American languages.
Only when it comes time to interact with other units do the Soldiers speak English. They also preserve another part of their culture by cooking native dishes and celebrating holidays Puerto Rican style.
The combat-proven Soldiers and Black Hawks are an important asset to the mission in Kuwait, said Lt. Col. Ben Lacy, 1st Bn., 111th Aviation Reg. commander.
"They're doing a great job, and we're proud to serve with them," said Lacy. "Plus, they have great taste in music and food."
| Date Taken: |
12.19.2006 |
| Date Posted: |
12.19.2006 13:39 |
| Story ID: |
8626 |
| Location: |
CAMP BUEHRING, KW |
| Web Views: |
347 |
| Downloads: |
175 |
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