1-25 ARB heats up training

By Sgt. Jonathan ThibaultJuly 21, 2014

1-25 ARB heats up training
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT IRWIN, Calif. - Heat radiating from blazing hot barrels and a furious sun added to the training obstacles aviation Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, faced as they conducted their rotation at the National Training Center on Fort Irwin, Calif., May 21, 2014.

Fort Carson pilots from Company C, 1st Bn., 25th Avn. Reg., 25th Infantry Division, tested their new AH-64E Apaches and learned about their capabilities.

"We are at NTC to validate our pilots, integrate with the greater task force and perform aircraft maintenance to get us ready for deployment," said Capt. Joshua Brown, commander, Company C, 1st Bn., 25th Avn. Reg. "We have tested the AH-64E, and it has surpassed a lot of our expectations."

The battalion is the newest addition to the 25th Inf. Div.'s aviation fleet.

"We have conducted many situational training exercises to show how we improve the 25th Avn. Reg.'s capabilities," said Brown. "We are proud to work with our unit's ground forces. We hope to support them and any other units to the best of our abilities."

The pilots discovered many advantages of the new Apache model.

"We have found that the newer model has a more powerful engine, giving pilots better maneuvering abilities," said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Ryan Brescher, company maintenance test pilot. "It helps us get a better line of sight on our objectives and engage any aggressive entities. We have noted the differences between the delta and echo models of the AH-64 Apache, which lets us (articulate) our capabilities to anyone we support."

Apache pilots found NTC to be a great training area to improve communication with ground assets.

"We had many opportunities to work with ground forces during (the training), which especially helps our new pilots," said Brescher. "Our integration with the ground forces has allowed us to see how they plan and make us more proficient at accommodating their needs from the air."

Brown said the training at NTC is invaluable and he knows that the Soldiers of his company will be well versed in the operations they must perform when called upon.

"I'm glad to be attending this training because it helps our junior pilots become more proficient," said Brown. "It also allows us to perform and create our own standard operating procedures and fighting techniques."