Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division sheltered their aircraft Oct. 10, at Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.
Marne Air Soldiers sheltered their aircraft in hangars in preparation for Hurricane Michael, which is the second hurricane 3CAB has prepared for.
“We are sheltering our aircraft in hangars in preparation for Hurricane Michael to ensure the safety of the aircraft, making sure no damages occur due to flying debris from tropical storm force winds or higher,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Cody Grow, a production control officer for 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment.
Grow has 14 years of experience in flying UH-60 Blackhawks, he expressed the importance of sheltering the aircraft.
“There is always a possibility to do follow-on missions to help Americans that might be affected by the hurricane,” said Grow. “It is good for us to keep our aircraft sheltered and safe so we are ready to do these mission.”
Marne Air Soldiers sheltered their aircraft prior to assume the Army’s Defense Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive Response Force (DCRF) mission November 1.
Approximately 75 aircraft have been sheltered in hangars for safety which can take some time.
“The process of sheltering aircraft, is to get the aircraft into a hangar as close as possible to each other without doing damage to the aircraft while moving them in place,” said Grow. “In order to do this, we have a seven-man team which consist of six people guiding and securing the aircraft and the seventh person typically a leader who takes charge of the movement to ensure the safety protocols are followed.”
Since the Mare Air Soldiers constantly train and prepare for hurricane support mission, they have built muscle memory.
“So, we actually sheltered the aircraft on numerous occasions over the passed three years,” said Grow. “The Soldiers are very prepared for it.
They know to take their time and not rush the process to ensure safety is forefront.”
The process of sheltering an aircraft inside a hangar can take 15 to 20 minutes and with 75 or more aircraft the 3CAB still makes it look easy.
“We are sheltering our aircraft. We prioritizing the aircraft that are mission ready and able to go out in case of follow-on missions,” said Spc. Rachel Ramey, an UH-60 Blackhawk mechanic for 4th Battalion, “The process is going pretty smooth, to the common eye it looks chaotic but that is just the everyday life.