Lock and Load: Team Whiteman, Army National Guard replicate wartime mission

  • Published
  • By Rachel Harper, Missouri Army National Guard Public Affairs
  • Senior Airman Stephen Linch, 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  "We are taking heavy fire... requesting immediate air support," says a Soldier, praying it will be their saving grace.

Answering his prayers, miles away following the order to 'get the birds in the air,' a team of Apache gunships take to the skies.

Replicating this wartime scenario the Missouri Army National Guard's 1-135th Attack Recon Battalion recently implemented a new training program Sept. 6 that allows pilots to arm and fly three AH-64 Apache helicopters from Whiteman AFB to Fort Leonard Wood to practice aerial gunnery at their monthly drill.

Team Whiteman helped make this replication possible as the 509th Munitions Squadron provided a place for the Army's ammunition to be stored, an area to sight the Apaches in before they took off and the 442nd Fighter Wing worked their schedule allowing the range to be used by the Army for a couple of hours.

"It went so smoothly that our intent is to make it quarterly," said Army Lt. Col. Charles Hausman, 1-135th Attack Recon Battalion commander.

Prior to this exercise, pilots only live-fire on targets during annual training, and the unit had to travel much farther to use ranges in other areas such as Colorado.

Colonel Hausman said the new training program will allow Soldiers to be under less stress and pressure since there are no time constraints.

"This gives them the training opportunities they need," he said.

Prior to leaving Whiteman, the helicopters received 330 rounds of 30-mm bullets for the cannon and 32 2.76 inch rockets .

Army Staff Sgt. Barry Keck, noncommissioned officer in charge of the arming pad, has worked as an armament electrician for the UH-1 Iroquois, AH-1 Cobra and the AH-64 Apache. Sergeant Keck said three Soldiers who were loading ammunition were getting their first experience with the task at hand.

The Colonel said the training practices are also beneficial because it allows the battalion to identify any mechanical problems with the helicopters.

He said he has noticed in the past that when they fire at annual training there have been some problems that could have been recognized at an earlier practice. With these practices, they can identify the problems now and get them fixed.

"This exercise is beneficial for the Soldiers and for the machines," Colonel Hausman said. "The team effort that made this possible really allows for us to better prepare to take care of our Soldiers on the ground."

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.