A8 Belvoir Eagle March 17, 2016
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March 17, 2016 Belvoir Eagle A9
Midshipmen from the George Washington Univeristy NROTC disembark at Davison Army Airfield after a brief flight over the National Mall and Fort Belvoir, March 11.
GWU Midshipmen get glimpse of Army aviation
By Sara A. Taylor Community Relations Officer
Photos by Paul Lara
Midshipmen from the George Washington University NROTC visit Davison Army Airfield and inspect the 12th Aviation Battalion's VH-60M Black Hawk, used to shuttle flag officers and DoD officials throughout the district.
A flight of Midshipmen from the George Washington Univeristy NROTC return to Davison Army Airfield after a brief flight over the Washington corridor by the 12th Aviation Battalion, March 11.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Dewayne Williams, with 12th Aviation Battalion at Davison Army Airfield explains Black Hawk operations to visiting NROTC Midshipmen from George Washington University, March 11.
Midshipmen from George Washington University’s Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps spent Friday morning learning about 12th Aviation Battalion and the helicopters flown by battalion Soldiers on Davison Army Air Field. This was a unique experience for the 48 Midshipmen who visited, as many of the college students will commission into the Navy or the Marine Corps upon completion of college. “This was a great opportunity for the students,” said Navy Lt. Jordan Dantas, assistant professor of Naval Science, and sophomore class and surface warfare adviser for GWU’s NROTC, “many of the students don’t know much about (Fort Belvoir) or the Army. This was a great way to expose them to another military branch.” During their visit, the group was split in to smaller groups where they participated in round-robin type rotations. Throughout the rotations, the Midshipmen learned a little about the history of Army aviation and 12th Aviation Battalion. They were also able to climb in and explore a VH-60M and the UH-60L Black Hawk and had a chance to ask questions to those who fly and work around these aircraft every day. Many of the Midshipmen in the group said learning about the helicopters and Army aviation was fun and exciting, but what truly made their trip special was their flights on the UH-60L Black Hawk. During the round-robin, each group was treated to a 40-minute orientation flight. This was the first helicopter ride for most of the students and it seemed to be a ride they won’t soon forget. “The helicopter ride was an experience that I have never ever been close to having the opportunity to do,” said Kelsey Ohm, a freshman at GWU and NJROTC Midshipman, “I just really enjoyed getting to do that.” This isn’t the first group to come and explore 12th Aviation Battalion. According to Capt. Terikazu D. Onoda, 12th Aviation Battalion S3, TAAB, the battalion hosts about a dozen of these type events each year as a way to show the community what
Midshipman Erin Heffernan, with the George Washington University NROTC, tries out the right seat of the VH-60M Black Hawk during a visit to Davison Army Airfield, March 11. away from the NROTC environment for the unit does. “Many of the people that live around the morning and see firsthand how a milihere see us flying but don’t know we are tary unit works. They were able to interact here or what we do,” he said. “Doing these with and learn about Army aviation while types of events helps build relationships, speaking to experienced Soldiers about their military careers as pilots. both in and out of the military.” “These Midshipmen are future military Even with all of the excitement of the day, the biggest take away – one the Mid- officers,” Onoda said. “It is great to have shipmen might not recognize – is that this the opportunity to inspire them to join the group of young students were able to step aviation field – even if it isn’t in the Army.”