FORT CARSON, Colo. -- "Apache 6 this is Bushwhacker 6."
"Verify targets are north of PL (phase line) and within the EA (engagement area). You are cleared to engage."
This was a radio call that Soldiers in 1st Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, heard numerous times during the recent aerial live-fire gunnery exercise the unit conducted to certify AH-64E Apache aircrews.
"This is important to practice what we do on deployments," said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Russell Juart, standardization pilot, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Bn., 25th Avn. Reg. "This training allows us to keep the guys on the ground safe."
The aircrews start with individual qualifications then move to advanced qualifications which involve an exercise with three Apaches. During the qualification, the aircrews fired rockets, 30 mm chain guns and simulated Hellfire missiles, first in a simulator, then in a daytime exercise and finally in a nighttime exercise.
"The aircrews are given the mission, and then they have to plan how they will execute it," said Capt. Erik Twombly, assistant planner for operations, HHC, 1st Bn., 25th Avn. Reg. "The range gives us the most realistic training since it has multiple purposes so we can conduct any type of scenario."
The aircrews certify in all weapon systems they use in combat.
"We are flying the E model of the AH-64 which has a new digital communications system," said Twombly. "Crews are being evaluated on target handovers and synchronizing operations with this new system."
The E model has greater power margin which allows better hovering engagements with full ammunition loads, Twombly said.
The aircrews exercised flying low to the ground and using the terrain to "sneak up" on the notional enemy.
During the first week of the two-week exercise, the unit certified 10 aircrews in three days. Each crew had to complete 30 qualification tables -- each table is 10 engagements.
According to Juart, the unit conducts gunnery exercises every two to three months, but not all aircrews have the opportunity to fire. Once a year, the unit conducts the large live-fire gunnery where crews have the opportunity to be certified.
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