Soundbite: Alaska Army National Guard Capt. Cody McKinney, an AKARNG UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot with 207th Aviation Troop Command


Description: A 14-soldier team from the 207th Aviation Troop Command stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, participated in the Weapons and Tactics Instructor course 24-2 at the Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Ariz. During the rigourous, seven-week course, the Guardsmen flew two UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters for more than 144 hours over the course of 16 progressively challenging simulated combat missions with a variety of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft. Their participation marks the first time a conventional (not special forces) Army Black Hawk unit has participated in the...