1st Combat Aviation Brigade hosts ROTC cadets

By Capt. Keith E. ThayerJuly 30, 2015

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1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Capt. Rachel B. Tax, commander, Co. B, and Capt. Brent Vann, commander, Co. F, both with 2nd GSAB, 1st Avn. Regt., 1st CAB, 1st Inf. Div., perform hover and system checks prior to mission start in the CH-47 Chinook on July 16 at Fort Riley. The CAB a... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Hector L. Lopez, platoon sergeant, Co. B, 1st Bn., 18th Inf. Regt., 2nd ABCT, 1st Inf. Div., counts his Soldiers as they board the CH-47 Chinook. The Soldiers were moving to the aircraft from the pickup zone at Marshall Army Airfield, Fort... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ROTC cadets joined aviators of the 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, as they supported a 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team exercise July 16 at Fort Riley. Six ROTC cadets observed and learned how aviation officers planned and conducted multiple air lifts supporting a squad live fire for the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd ABCT.

The cadets were at Fort Riley as part of the Cadet Troop Leading Training program, which provides them a glimpse at what life will be like as a newly commissioned officer. The cadets come from colleges across the country, including the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. They will return to school in the fall for their senior year and then receive their branch designations.

Capt. Rachel B. Tax, Company C, 2nd GSAB, 1st Avn. Regt., commander and pilot in command for the day's training, conducted the air-mission brief for the visiting cadets.

"I was really excited to provide the opportunity for the Cadet Troop Leading Training cadets to get a glimpse of the CH-47 capabilities and culture," Tax said. "Hopefully the experience will influence their future branch preferences while also giving them a solid taste of the CAB, 1st Inf. Div., reputation for professional support."

Cadet Joseph K. Miller, West Point, is interested in the aviation branch.

"Aviation was my first choice and it's what I want to branch," he said. "It's been a great experience."

Miller was assigned to Troop A, 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment. Crews were in the process of flying their Kiowa Warrior helicopters to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona to turn in the aircraft, part of the Army's aviation restructuring initiative. That meant Miller got to see not only the last flights, but all of the planning it took to make them happen.

As the July 16 training mission got underway, the CH-47 Chinook's pilot turned toward Milford Lake headed toward the landing zone in the Custer Hill training area.

"I love to fly, and the weather for today's training only made it that much better," said Capt. Brent Vann, pilot, 2nd GSAB, 1st Avn. Regt.

"For me, it's a tremendous opportunity to further demonstrate what we do as aviators in a realistic training scenario," Vann said about what it meant for him and his fellow aviators to host the cadets. "We're just excited to be part of growing the next generation of Army leadership."

Maj. Jacob E. Roper, executive officer, 2nd GSAB, 1st Avn. Regt., spoke to the cadets before their day ended at the airfield.

"After college, it's not going to get any easier as Army aviators," Roper, a 13-year Kiowa pilot, said.

Cadet Myron Krider, who attends University of North Carolina at Charlotte and hopes to commission as a medical officer, said he learned a lot.

"Fort Riley and the 1st Inf. Div. are definitely as advertised," he added.

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