FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Members of the Fort Drum community gathered June 28 at the Light Fighter School for a ceremony honoring Soldiers who have graduated from the U.S. Army Pathfinder School.
Army Pathfinders are specialists in navigating their way through foreign terrain and establishing safe landing zones for airborne and air assault Soldiers or Army aircraft. Many times, these Soldiers are asked to parachute into remote areas, navigate their way to unobstructed locations, and then relay those coordinates back to a command center.
The U.S. Army Pathfinder School is a three-week course in which the student navigates while dismounted; establishes and operates a day / night helicopter landing zone; establishes and operates a day / night Computed Air Release System, Ground Marked Release System, and Army Verbally Initiated Release System parachute drop zones; conducts sling load operations; and provides air traffic control and navigational assistance to rotary-wing and fixed-wing airborne operations. Students also participate in a three-day field training exercise as a member of a Pathfinder team.
Guest speaker 1st Sgt Nelson Cuevas, F Company (Pathfinder), Task Force Knighthawk first sergeant, congratulated the graduates of Class 704-12 on their achievement.
"To all of you still standing here today, job well done," Cuevas told the graduates. "You have successfully completed an Army School that is known for being extremely difficult, extremely challenging and -- dare I say -- notorious for having a high percentage of Soldiers dropped from the course."
Cuevas told the Soldiers he believed Pathfinder School was more difficult for him than other cour-ses, such as Ranger School.
"For my guys in the formation who think of me as the irritable, worn-down old man, well now you know; Pathfinder School is half the reason why I feel weathered and old," he explained. "You're all still the other half of the reason."
He noted that he chose to share his experiences with the graduates to emphasize how challenging the course is and the magnitude of their accomplishments.
Cuevas also urged the Soldiers to research the history of the Pathfinders throughout major worldwide conflicts.
"Take note as to how the Army came to the realization of the importance of Pathfinders … in service today, (and) how the winged torch became our symbol and why, we Pathfinders, live by the motto 'First in. Last out,'" he said.
Cuevas continued, noting it is important for the graduates to know the Pathfinder history and understand the lineage, because they are now a part of it.
"You all must now recognize your great responsibility to uphold it and bring further credit upon it," he added.
He then offered some advice to the Soldiers.
"Do what is necessary to maintain that level of proficiency required, fulfilling your obligations to those who are depending on you," Cuevas said. "Be proud, knowing that when the time comes for you to exercise what you've learned, that you will rise to that occasion and do so in a manner which reflects proudly on your unit and the Pathfinders.
"Quite simply I ask, that from this day forward, all of you earn your torch," he concluded.
After his speech, Cuevas helped in recognizing each graduate.
First Lt. Stephen McCarthy, 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, was named Honor Graduate for de-monstrating superior academic achievement.
Other Pathfinder School graduates are as follows: Capt. Joseph Betz, Capt. Jeffrey Kelly, Capt. Brandon Sirois, 1st Lt. Matthew Laney, Sgt. 1st Class John Brear, Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Puges, Staff Sgt. Charles Crawford, Staff Sgt. Tyler Dyck, Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Herling, Staff Sgt. Jason Hume, Staff Sgt. Leo Kavitz, Staff Sgt. Timothy Moore, Staff Sgt. Richard Pernal, Staff Sgt. Blane Risinger, Staff Sgt. Steven Rosado, Sgt. Michael Ballou, Sgt. Matthew Kohler, Sgt. Douglas McPherson, Sgt. Ildefonzo Moran Jr., Sgt. Adrian Noriega, Spc. Justin Abbey, Spc. Felipe Andrade, Spc. Kyle Baker, Spc. Kristopher Dendtler, Spc. Zachary Desantis, Spc. Corey Glynn, Spc. Richard Marcano, Spc. Alexander McCampbell, Spc. Stephen Moore, Spc. Nathaniel Oncea, Spc. Evan Theoharis, Pfc. Trey Bosworth and Pfc. Jacob Guimond.
Social Sharing