Soldiers in Europe chart a course as Pathfinders

By Staff Sgt. Kenneth D. Reed, 7th Army Training CommandFebruary 22, 2017

Pathfinder
1 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Soldier, assigned to 173rd Airborne, shoots an azimuth as she prepares for sling load operations during the Pathfinder Course, Feb. 14, 2017, in the Grafenwoehr Training Area. The Pathfinder Course prepares Soldiers to establish day and night landi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Pathfinder
2 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers prepare a HMMWV for sling load operations during the Pathfinder Course, Feb. 14, 2017, in the Grafenwoehr Training Area. The Pathfinder Course prepares Soldiers to establish day and night landing zones for cargo drops, and provide air traffi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Pathfinder
3 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A CH-47, Chinook, transports a HMMWV during the Pathfinder Course, Feb. 14, 2017, in the Grafenwoehr Training Area. The Pathfinder Course prepares Soldiers to establish day and night landing zones for cargo drops, and provide air traffic control and ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Pathfinder
4 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Soldier, assigned to 173rd Airborne, plots an area where his team will prepare a landing zone for cargo drops during the Pathfinder Course, Feb. 14, 2017, in the Grafenwoehr Training Area. The Pathfinder Course prepares Soldiers to establish day an... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Pathfinder
5 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The crew chief of a CH-47, Chinook, examines the sling load inspection form during the Pathfinder Course, Feb. 14, 2017, in the Grafenwoehr Training Area. The Pathfinder Course prepares Soldiers to establish day and night landing zones for cargo drop... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Pathfinder
6 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers sling load a HMMWV during the Pathfinder Course, Feb. 14, 2017, in the Grafenwoehr Training Area. The Pathfinder Course prepares Soldiers to establish day and night landing zones for cargo drops, and provide air traffic control and navigatio... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany -- 47 Soldiers completed the U.S. Army Pathfinder Course here, Feb. 14, 2017.

The course -- which is normally only available in the U.S. -- was offered to Europe-based Soldiers in Germany through a special mobile training team from Ft. Benning.

The Pathfinder Course prepares Soldiers to establish day and night landing zones for cargo drops, and provide air traffic control and navigational assistance to rotary and fixed wing aircrafts. Inspecting equipment loaded on and strapped beneath aircrafts and help their command plan airborne assault operations are among other duties they will also assume.

Related Links:

U.S. Army Pathfinder School

U.S. Army Europe

7th Army Training Command