Stryker Brigade News

The training is important for both the Aviation and Stryker Soldiers because it allows the ground troops to familiarize with the pilots who provide battlefield protection and an added asset to their units, said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Corey Swetz, Co. A, 1st Bn., 4th Avn. Regt.

“It allows them to know our capabilities as well as giving them a face-to-face with the people they’ll be actually talking to in the air,” he said. “It lets us tell them what they can expect from us. They’ve got a ground perspective. We’re just trying to let them understand what it is to deal with the air crews and the importance or painting the picture properly so that we can give them the best support possible.”

According to Sgt. 1st Class Chad Walker, platoon sergeant, 2nd platoon, Co. C, 1st Bn., 17th Infantry Regiment, 172nd SBCT, the unit never utilized the services of the HH-60, while serving in Mosul.

“We primarily used the Strykers as a form of casualty evacuation,” he explained. “The Combat Support Hospital was close enough that anytime we got hit with anything, we could truck them on down to the CSH. It was a lot quicker than using air support.”

It was important for his unit to receive the training because a lot of its younger Soldiers had never seen any of the aircraft before, said Walker. Since the unit will be operating in a theater different from the Mosul area, having attack and support aviation is critical to its success.

“It’s important that we get the aviation integration training so that our guys are at least a little more fluent with operations that are going on here,” said Walker, who leads a platoon of 38 Soldiers.

Staff Sgt. Kristopher Barnette, 172nd SBCT, said he, too, was pleased with the way the CAB presented the training and he was enlightened by the amount of information provided by the flight crews.

“I think the aviation crew had everything put together really well. They told us everything we needed to know as far as extracting the pilots and anything we may need to get out or take care, as far as not letting anything get into enemy hands.

Barnette pointed out that his unit had worked with aviation before but not with a unit with as many aviation assets as the CAB.

“Every day that we were out, we would work with the aviation elements,” he said. Barnette, who is a native of Blacksburg, S.C. “I think this training will be very, very beneficial. I just look forward to working with these guys.”

According to 1st Lt. Nicholas Sykes, the training is a valuable tool for his Soldiers as they learn about new aircraft and what the CAB can provide for troops on the ground.

“So far the training has been good,” said Sykes, platoon leader, 2nd platoon, Co. C. “I had never seen an HH-60 model. I got to see a new bird today, and I learned a little bit more about the Apaches from the guys in the skies. That always benefits us on the ground.”

He said he thinks the air integration training will be beneficial for his unit because it provides them a valuable lesson about several key assets in the fight.

“Any training we can get, when we’ve got a little down time, like we have right now, is awesome for the guys,” he explained. “It keeps them from getting too bored, and it gives us infantry guys something to learn.”

Sykes added the intent of his unit’s mission in Mosul was very similar to what they’re asked to do in Baghdad.

“We were there to help pacify the city and create a safe and secure environment for the local nationals there,” Sykes said.