Fresh off of a conference victory over the Oklahoma Sooners, players and staff of the Kansas State men's basketball team experienced the thrill of simulated flight as they, along with Soldiers from their partner unit, sat in the cockpit of Chinook, Kiowa and Blackhawk helicopter simulators Jan. 15 at Marshall Army Airfield.
The team has developed a strong partnership -- begun several years ago and maintained through multiple deployments -- with 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team. The players wear the battalion crest on the front of their uniforms -- the only men's team in the nation to wear a battalion-level crest.
"It was a great experience to come and see what these guys go through on a regular basis because we're not used to that -- we're used to going to school and playing basketball," Nigel Johnson, a freshman point guard with the Wildcats, said. "I know it's hard work and they put their lives on the line so I definitely respect them a lot."
The players were able to take advantage of the Aviation Combined Arms Tactical Trainer, which consists of six separate simulators, each of which can be quickly reconfigured, depending on what skills need to be honed.
"It's a little bit different for them, but we set the scenario up so that it's pretty easy for them to deal with," Tom O'Neal, the site manager and senior trainer at the AVCATT, said. "I think they're doing well with all of it, it's pretty easy once they get the feel for it, kind of like a video game."
In recent years, Soldiers and Family members of the battalion have been invited to the team's new practice facility and in exchange, players have come onto Fort Riley to experience what a Soldier's life is like.
"There are always benefits," Sgt. 1st Class Sean Dewitt, senior noncommissioned officer with Co. G, 1st Bn., 7th FA Regt., and a Wildcat basketball season-ticket holder. "We get to see these guys grow into college graduates and they also get to come out here and see what we do on a day-to-day basis. Soldiers love it because some never got to experience the college life, so they now get to experience it communicating with these players."
Last year, the team toured the battalion's training areas and motor pool, trying out weapons, communications gear, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear protection equipment, as well as seeing the inside of the battalion's M1096A2 Paladin howitzers.
This time around, the team opted for the flight simulators, and displayed varying degrees of aptitude.
"A couple of them crashed, but most of them did really well," Dewitt said.
Johnson said it was challenging to initially come to grips with the simulators.
"It was a lot harder than I thought it would be," he said. "The stick was more sensitive -- I thought it would be something like a car but it was completely different."
With the rest of their season and a possible March Madness run ahead of them, the team had to return to Manhattan to study game film. The partnership between the two groups will continue, Dewitt said. The battalion annually presents its "Never Broken" Award at the team's end-of-season banquet, a nod to its motto, "Never broken by hardship or battle."
"There will be more things like this (in the future)," Dewitt said. "It's not going to stop, I can guarantee that."
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