CHALLENGING CONDITIONS
Sokol uses Russian doctrine that is available on open source and other mediums in order to simulate tactics, but it will also use U.S.-based doctrine because some U.S. doctrine and Russian doctrine will cross-pollinate and be very similar, Cardona said. “Ultimately though, the specific doctrine will change based on the scenario that they are facing,” he added. “If the RTU is doing very well, they will ramp it up and the RTU will be facing more complicated maneuvers in a much more aggressive attack profile. For me, it is the most challenging area that I have flown in. The heat is one thing; it reduces aircraft performance. But it can also be very dark out there. It can be extremely windy, and the dust is another thing. We have to be very focused on what we do. It also depends where you are. The terrain and the environment is not the same in every single portion of the box (training area). In some areas, the sand is much thicker and so when the dust gets kicked up, it’s almost like rocks hitting the aircraft. Then you go five miles east or west and you might encounter something I call ‘moondust.’ You can be 40 feet up in the air and experience complete brownout. It goes dark and it is daytime!”
DESERT HAWKS
The Alpha Company Desert Hawks of the 2916th Aviation Battalion are praised for the broadest mission set. From 2011 until 2015, the unit operated a mix of UH-72As and UH-60s. Today, the unit operates only seven UH-60L Blackhawk helicopters out of Barstow-Daggett Airport. The main task of the unit is the VIP transport mission. On a regular basis, the NTC at Fort Irwin is visited by civic leaders, commanders, generals,
celebrities, congressional delegates and foreign
dignitaries. Over the years, tasks were expanded to include aerial reconnaissance, resupply missions, casevac, and air assault missions for the 11th ACR.
“Because the A Company’s UH-60Ls do not have MILES, when they are participating in the game, they always will be accompanied by a B Company UH-72A. Between rotations, the Tarantula OCT (part of the NTC OPS Group) is on airborne status and has to jump every so often. A Company will conduct all their airborne operations and do para-drops. They are the Swiss Army knife of operations here,” said Captain Robert B. Forney, former commander of A Company and former S3 operations officer at the 2916th Aviation Battalion.
Charlie Company of the 2916th Aviation Battalion is one of the busiest medevac units in the United States. It provides 24/7 coverage 365 days a year for both the NTC and San Bernardino County.
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