Valuable lessons learned


Maj. Daniel T. Collier, a 42nd ECAB (Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade) operations officer who is an experienced Black Hawk pilot for the 3-142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion with 1,170 flight hours in his logbook, looks back on this deployment with satisfaction.


“We flew more than 20 flights for a total of 68.4 flight hours in day, night, and night vision goggles (NVG) modes of flight. We flew not only a joint air/marine interdiction familiarization training mission with the Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine units from Puerto Rico, but we also flew missions in support of the FEMA Caribbean office, FEMA Region II, and the Puerto Rico urban search and rescue (USAR) teams. We furthermore conducted personnel recovery training missions with our organic air assets consisting of C Co. 1-171st Air Ambulance Company (GSAB) and our 3-142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion. We coordinated with and trained with the Puerto Rico Army National Guard aviation units. We relied heavily upon the 156th Wing from the Puerto Rico Air National Guard for support during our strat air (strategic air transport) movements, and blade folding/unfolding operations. Our strat air C-17s were provided by the 105th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard based at Stewart ANGB and the 172nd Airlift Wing from the Mississippi Air National Guard based at Jackson ANGB.


74 Nov/Dec 2024


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78