3rd CAB soldier awarded Air Assault’s Distinguished Honor Grad

3rd Combat Aviation Brigade
Story by Capt. Chad Ashe

Date: 03.28.2014
Posted: 04.01.2014 09:30
News ID: 123493
3rd CAB soldier awarded Air Assault’s Distinguished Honor Grad

HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, Ga. – Army Pfc. Calvin Myers from Hemet, Calif., an aviation operations specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, was recently awarded the coveted Army Air Assault Badge from an Air Assault course offered at Fort Benning, Ga. Rarer and more prestigious was his selection as Distinguished Honor Graduate.

The course, taught by National Guard training cadre, offered 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade soldiers the chance to become air assault certified. The soldiers who attended first completed a two-day course at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., after being selected by their leadership for displaying the physical and mental capabilities for passing the 10-day course at Fort Benning.

Staff Sgt. Nicholas Downey is Myers’ platoon sergeant, and said Myers has exceeded all expectations placed upon him in his platoon, and that as one of the most motivated Soldiers he have ever seen, is always in the proper place, proper time, and proper uniform.

“Myers is mature way beyond his years showing the ability to learn at a rapid pace,” said Downey. “Myers takes every task with vigor I have not seen from a soldier before.”

Downey said after being selected to attend the course, Myers began reading material and study guides, and then sought knowledge by calling on everyone in HHC that had attended the class.

Myers attributes his achievement on studying course materials. He said he did well on the physical portions of the course but it was mostly his knowledge and motivation that set him apart.

When asked who was most proud of him, Myers answered his wife and leadership.

“She makes fun of me,” said Myers about what his wife says about the accomplishment.

“Whenever I got home I said I don’t think the distinguished honor grad would like that,” said Myers jokingly referencing the advantage he was taking at home of his newfound title.

Myers comes clean though and says his wife is very proud of what he has done.

Myers’ job as an aviation operations specialist means he tracks and keeps records of aircraft. He said he never thought he would have had this opportunity for him as a private, getting this course while here at this installation with this division.

When asked about repelling, “I never thought I would have to leave a perfectly good helicopter,” said Myers.