FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. -- It's not uncommon to see helicopters fly over Fort Leonard Wood. What is uncommon is seeing a UH-60 Black Hawk soaring above, full of Soldiers in Basic Combat Training.
"We want to give them some good training," said Capt. Chad Koenig, Company B, 795th Military Police Battalion commander. "Last cycle, our APFT wasn't as high as we would like for it to be. This was an incentive for Soldiers to motivate them to do good on their Army Physical Fitness Test."
Two squads of basic trainees from Company B, 795th Military Police Battalion, were rewarded for having the highest APFT scores by taking part in an air assault mission May 29.
"They got to fly on the bird for about 15 minutes. They had a good time," Koenig said. "With the budget cuts, most of them may not have the opportunity to get in another helicopter."
After the 27 basic trainees departed from the Missouri National Guard airfield on post, they flew to an assembly area where they dismounted and began a squad direct attack on the opposing force, played by their fellow trainees.
The cadre tried to make the mission feel as realistic as possible as the Soldiers set up an ambush on the enemy guarding a hidden weapons cache.
"The fact that they were on a bird upped their adrenaline a little bit, so they pushed themselves a little bit harder. They used blank ammunition and the OPFOR, which is basically the simulated bad guys, were in Arabic garb," Koenig said. "In addition, they used Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System gear so it actually beeped when they were shot. This FTX, we also had what we call a Close Combat Mission Capability Kit. It's almost like a simunition -- they found out how it feels to get hit by a round."
Pfc. Daniel Jackson, Company B, 795th Military Police Battalion, enjoyed being in the Black Hawk so much he wants to do it all the time.
"I want to push for Airborne school now because being up there was absolutely awesome," Jackson said.
Following the operation, Pfc. Emily Sweeney, Company B, 795th Military Police Battalion, was all smiles.
"My favorite part was the takeoff. I have never been in a helicopter. Getting in a Black Hawk and going straight up was unlike anything I have ever experienced," Sweeney said.
She was grateful to be given the opportunity to do something most BCT Soldiers don't get to do.
"It was such a surprise. Coming into basic training, I knew I was going to have some new experiences, but this was pretty cool ," Sweeney said. "I feel extremely privileged. I have friends going through basic training, one right here on post. When we graduate I can't wait to tell them I got to fly in a Black Hawk."
When the helicopter landed, Jackson said everything he has learned in BCT came together for him as they prepared to ambush their target.
"All the training kicked in and I was ready to go," Jackson said.
Koenig is pleased with the higher APFT scores this cycle and glad he was able to kick training up a notch for his Soldiers.
"They did outstanding and put a lot of extra effort in. There is a lot of potential in this class. I am happy that they got to do this," Koenig said. This isn't the first time BCT Soldiers have been in a helicopter on post, but this is the first time his company has used an air assault operation to change up their field training.
"We have a lot of drill sergeants from Fort Campbell; they have the air assault heritage in them," Koenig said. "I've been doing this job for 19 months. You have to think outside the box to enhance training. The same FTX cycle after cycle can get kind of dry, especially for the drill sergeants."
Sweeney was thankful to have drill sergeants that care so much about her training.
"I know you aren't supposed to like your drill sergeants, but I have a lot of respect for them. They are trying to train us the best they can. They push us hard but they are just trying to make us the best we can be," Sweeney said.
This One Station Unit Training class of about 150 Soldiers will transfer from BCT to Advanced Individual Training on June 1. They are set to graduate Aug. 16.
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