The Alaska Army National Guard and the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence are currently participating in a training course at the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Arizona. The Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 is hosting the training, which started on March 4 and will end on April 20. This is the first time U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk crews, excluding Special Forces, have joined this joint training course.
The Marine Corps' Weapons Training Instructor Course, unlike the Navy's Top Gun, focuses on the integration of all Marine aviation assets. This includes ground forces, command and control systems, logistics, and air defense assets. The course is designed for experienced officers from all aviation communities, with officers from ground combat, combat support, and combat service support also attending.
The Army aviation detachment participating in the course includes about 18 soldiers, 14 of whom are from the Alaska Army National Guard. In early March, an Alaska Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster III transported two AKARNG UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma for the course. Two active-duty aviators from the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Novosel, Alabama, are also participating.
The Utah Army National Guard has provided a spare UH-60L Black Hawk and two Guardsmen for maintenance during the course. The two Army aircrews will train with members of the Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force. The two Black Hawks, equipped with extended-range fuel tanks, will participate in simulated combat missions with U.S., allied, and opposing force aircraft.
The training will help the Army improve its aviation training methodology and combat tactics. This is crucial as the Army continues to train to counter near-peer threats. The U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk crews' participation in this course is a significant step in improving the Army's combat readiness and capabilities.
Visit here for more detailsThis article has been enhanced with AI assistance. Agree to access AI-generated content by clicking here, or opt for content with less AI influence here.