They employ highly modified MH-47 Chinook, MH-60 Black Hawk and AH-6 and MH-6 assault and attack configurations of Little Bird helicopters. All soldiers receive intensive training upon joining the 160th and are required to pass the Green Platoon course. Please tell me this is a joke that I just didn't get. He remained in 1st Battalion, 160th SOAR (A) as an MH-60M Crew Chief. ", This date in ARSOA history: OPERATION MOUNT HOPE, U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command Facebook page, dated 11 June 2014, last accessed 9 June 2019, "Task Force DaggerOperation Enduring Freedom", "The Campaign PlanSpecial Operations Forces and Operation Enduring Freedom", "HONORING THE U.S. ARMY HEROES OF OPERATION RED WINGS", "Operation Enduring FreedomCaribbean, Central America (OEF-CCA)", "160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR)", "Special ops aviation company deactivated", "PRESS RELEASE: Four Special Operations Aviation Soldiers die in helicopter crash in Colorado", "Stealth chopper secrets may have been exposed", "PRESS RELEASE: Special Operations Aviation Soldier dies in helicopter training accident", "One killed in US 'Night Stalkers' hard landing", "2 Fort Campbell soldiers receive Distinguished Flying Cross", "Black Hawk helicopter that crashed off Yemen belonged to elite Special Operations air unit", "Pentagon identifies US service member killed in Afghanistan copter crash", "Special operations aviator killed in Iraq helicopter crash identified", "Special ops troops 'hunkered down' in California airport hangar after nighttime ninja attack", United States Army Center of Military History, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (United States), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=160th_Special_Operations_Aviation_Regiment_(Airborne)&oldid=1147084789, "Night Stalkers", "160th SOAR (A)", "Task Force Brown", "Night Stalkers don't quit! At midnight on 11 June 1988, two MH-47s flew 490 miles at night without outside navigational aids to the target location, the Ouadi Doum Airfield in northern Chad. Grahams aircraft pulled off to the right to circle around and insert their payload of SEALs after Turbine 33 moved off to allow their entrance. We argued for what seemed like 10 minutes but was actually about 30 seconds, Brady recalled. Erik Kristensen in the command operations center. The memorial service display in Bagram, Afghanistan. One of the SEALs even drew his pistol and attempted unsuccessfully to force the Chinook to land so they could try to save their friends. The chief warrant officer spot was established in 2005 when Chief Warrant Officer 5 Karl Maier was appointed to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Ryan said. The 160th SOAR (A) consists of the Army's best-qualified aviators, Crew Chiefs and support soldiers. The C-17 sat on the runway with the ramp down, waiting to receive the 16 interment cases containing the fallen warriors. Both helicopters were struck by small arms fire. [32][33], In May 2011, the Night Stalkers took part in the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound. SamOlson. After leaving the service, he worked as a personal trainer while earning his paramedic license. Fort Campbell, KY goarmysof.com/160th/SOARrecr Joined May 2019 106 Following 8,094 Followers Replies Media I have a degree and job at a large gov consulting firm This is post/unit dependent. Al and Kip were on the ramp when the RPG impacted, Smith, who witnessed the horrific event, recalled. Discover life as a 160th Special Operations Aviation #Army MOS #15T MH-60 Crew Chief. The fallen warriors were now on their way home. As the pilots climbed the last 1,000 feet of elevation, the AC-130 crew providing overwatch on their destination radioed to say they had to leave their position due to a mechanical issue. Until 2013, only men were allowed to be pilots in the 160th.[3]. The plan was for the SEALs to fast-rope onto the ridgeline above the original LZ. Joseph Turnage, a UH-60 Black Hawk crew chief, with the 160th Special. When I met him there on the ground in Jalalabad, Graham was fairly shaken to say the least, Brady recalled. On 26 March, the 160th SOAR took part in the Objective Beaver mission, a raid by DEVGRU on a complex known as al Qadisiyah Research Centre that was suspected to have stocks of chemical and biological weapons. and was assigned to the 160th SOAR at Fort Campbell, Ky. Cooper has seen extensive combat while flying Little Birds for the Night Stalkers, including . The weather was turning bad again as they offloaded Marines to assist with security. In the tradition of the best journalists, Burnett lets the story speak for itself. If you pass you will continue into 160th, if you fail or quit you will be sent to 101st. RM HEBE06 - A U.S. Army crew chief, right, with the 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) and an Air Force loadmaster with the 15th Airlift Squadron prepare to unload a MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Aug. 23, 2011. After several tense moments of struggling to bring in the rope, they decided to cut it loose. In helicopter parlance, a chopper like the MH-60, which is used for . The 160th had only lost helicopters during daylight missions at that point theyre calledNight Stalkers for a reason. Because of the candor and transparency in Burnetts narration the book becomes a valuable record for the historian and an honest accounting for any young person aspiring to join the militarys elite units. SOAR helicopters may also be used for resupply, close air support or medical evacuation of special operations personnel. Im guessing morning PT in 160th is pretty nuts? Listen as this tested Volunteer shares his experience in Army Special Operations Aviation and what it means to be a Night Stalker in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). [11][12], In November 2001, Night Stalker AH-6J Little Birds took part in Objective Wolverine and Raptor missions and Operation Relentless Strike. Source: used to be a 160th crew chief on the MH-60M like this. This sub has completely lost it's sense of humor. Not wanting to leave their brothers, the SEAL team commander hatched a plan with the Night Stalkers to insert higher up on the ridgeline and fight their way down to the crash site so Turbine 34 could fly back to Jalalabad, pick up as many SEALs as he could, and fly back to reinforce the eight SEALs. Just so it seems real to everyone else.. Ms. Snuffy, we regret to inform you that your son was selected as "the example" in his SERE class. In late May of that year an advance team went to Ndjamena, Chad, to await their aircraft. Kind of like SEALs.. The extreme height of the trees made the full length of rope approximately 90 feet necessary. The crash killed a soldier, Sergeant First Class James R. Stright, 29, and injured eight others, three seriously. The assault force (4 AH-6M Little Birds and 4 MH-60L Black Hawks) carried in DEVGRU operators to kill or capture the leader. More significantly across the entire arc of the Global War on Terror, the 160th SOAR has inserted elite special operations teams from every service, including SEALs, Rangers, Special Forces ultra-secret SFO-D (Delta) operatives. The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), abbreviated as 160th SOAR (A), is a special operations force of the United States Army that provides helicopter aviation support for special operations forces. There is an enthusiasm in Burnett that is tempered against reality, stress, fear and tragic loss. Then the realization hit: He was now in charge. This thread is archived New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast 2.7K 1 165 165 comments Best BrokenBodyEngineer 12NeverGonnaGiveYouUp 9 mo. The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) is for individuals who aren't afraid of challenges, Publication of Making a Night Stalker was crowd-funded through a Kickstarter campaign that raised $10,392 from 210 backers. The Night Stalkers fly the MH-60 'Mike' in 2 main roles: medium assault and medium attack (MH-60M DAP). As the Night Stalkers approached Bagram they could see what looked like everyone on base standing outside, showing their respect for the fallen. Not really sure who they were, but there was more activity than I expected., Brady rushed to the operations center where Chief Warrant Officer 4 Chris Eicher was telling the task force commander that they should wait until dark before sending the QRF because going in during daylight would subject them to more danger. A second MH-47E, callsign Razor 01, responded to the shoot down with a Quick Reaction Force; it was damaged by small arms and rocket-propelled grenades, and crash-landed. Graham made a stop at a Forward Arming and Refueling Point just outside of Jalalabad. Drop us on the high ground, and well make our way to our swim buddies, Kristensen told Brady. The task force commander debriefed the men and then focused on planning their next steps. . We would have to drop a man down with a hoist in that hole of an LZ, Brady explained. It just didnt look good.. They finalized plans and sent the Night Stalkers on their way. NSDQ! Background: Army NG Crew chief (15T) E4, been in about 4 years but still have very limited maintenance experience and just recently RL1 crew chief. FULLY MISSION QUALIFIED CREW CHIEF (Current Employee) - Fort Campbell, KY - February 12, . Officers volunteer while enlisted soldiers volunteer or are assigned by the U.S. Army Human Resources Command. It doesnt make sense., But he knew and lived by the Night Stalkers promise to every customer: If we put you in, well stop at nothing to get you out even if its technically someone elses job.. They would have to offload eight SEALs from each helicopter before continuing. MH-47D. They rode it all the way in that way.. Staff Sgt. The Night Stalkers spearheaded Operation Just Cause, the 1989 invasion of Panama, and they were also used in Operation Desert Storm in 1991. The Tuskegee Airmen flew bomber escort missions during World War II and earned a reputation for excellence that shattered racial barriers within the U.S. military. Enlisted Soldiers and NCOs are actively recruited to fill our ranks with the best men and women capable of executing our mission. [27] Night Stalker helicopters were present during the 2008 SOCOM counter-terror exercises in Denver. The troopstwo 12-man Green Beret teams from the 5th Special Forces Group dubbed Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 555 and 595[10] plus four Air Force Combat Controllerslinked up with the CIA and Northern Alliance. 8 Flight Instructor jobs available in Glenstone, TN on Indeed.com. Vincent P.. The work and training schedule is relentless, the standards astronomical and the men protective of their mission and their legacy. . I wager more than a few literary agents are kicking themselves as they realize they missed out on a historically relevant and uniquely narrated insight into a seldom covered but fascinating story. Upon joining the 160th, all soldiers are assigned to "Green Platoon", in which they receive intensive training in "advanced methods of the five basic combat skills: first responder, land navigation, combatives, weapons and teamwork". Author and former special operations helicopter crew chief David Burnetts new book, Making A Night Stalker contains every one of those elements and a unique twist: Burnett is not a writer. Brady told his operations NCO to give him a minute to gather more information to get the next plan of action in place. Pursuing a career in Army Aviation opens you up to an exciting array of many different specialties. This is not some hyped-up commando tale on steroids. He asked Graham to repeat, unable to register what he had just heard. Ray Dowdy, a crew chief who went down aboard Super 61, lost the tip of one finger and is still serving with the 160th at Fort Campbell. As demand for highly trained special operations aviation assets bloomed, the regiment activated three battalions, a separate detachment, and incorporated one Army National Guard unit, the 1st Battalion, 245th Aviation (OK ARNG). 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