New member

[DustoffALSE]

Greetings, ya'll! Just joined the site today. I'm a former soldier. I was in the US Army from Aug 88 to Feb 02. Units of assignment include:
C-Trp/HHT. 1/6th Cav, 6th CBAC, Ft. Hood, 3/89-10/90;
B-Co. 70th Trans Bn (AVIM), Mannheim, GE, 1/91-8/93;
D-Co. 9/101st Avn Bn, 101st ABN, FTCKY, 10/93-1/96;
159th Med Co (AA), Wiesbaden, GE, 4/96-7/96;
236th Med Co (AA), Landstuhl, GE, 8/96-2/02.
Now I'm a humble, underworked, overpaid US Gov't civil servant working at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.
I am really impressed with the site contents. Keep up the good work!

[Admin]

Welcome DustoffALSE!

This is still a very new forum so please tell others that may be interested. Looks like we were at Hood at the same time. Our barracks were across the street from the "Purina Tower" and hanger was across the street from the HAAF control tower.

Glad to have you on board!

[gixxer]

Welcome aboard.

[PFC Bloodsworth]

First off i would like to say I was impressed by this site and the memorial to all of our fallen comrades. i am a recently BCT graduate and am going to AIT in july as a 15T blackhawk repairer. I would love to have the opportunity to fly in a blackhawk as a crew chief/ door gunner. can anyone help me find out the procedure to doing this. And any information on what to take to AIT at ft. eustis and what to expect would be greatly appreciated.
thank you.

PFC. Bloodsworth

[DustoffALSE]

Here's my advice:
Don't worry about the flight duties part until you get to your gaining unit. Army aviation units have aircrew training programs that you will get integrated into once you arrive at your assignment. Your squad or section leader will fill you in on that part. For now, concentrate on the basics of being a repairer. Learn the bird, inside and out. Don't try to memorize all of the torque requirements for all of the nuts and bolts (there's a gazillion of them!), but rather know where to find the references in the TM's (Technical Manuals). There is a reason that those things are printed!
AIT is sort of like a familiarization course. You learn the real nuts-and-bolts once you get to your unit. I started out with OH58s, then UH60s, but I've also bent wrenches on AH1s, AH64s, UH1s, CH47s. I've got flight time on OH58s, UH1s, UH60s, AH1s, CH47s, and even got a ride once in a Mil-17 "Haze". So I guess that I have a little bit of experience.
Good luck and welcome aboard!

[Griffin7O4]

DustoffALSE is correct. Once I got to my unit, I was on a phase maintenance platoon and learned the aircraft inside and out. Don't be shy in asking questions from those that have been around a while, especially from some of the TI's. Also, try to learn as much as you can from others that work on the aircraft, like avionics, engine and airframe tech's. A little knowledge in several areas goes a long way.

After gaining experience around the aircraft (time) and depending on how many aircraft are assigned to your unit, you may get the chance to crew. When you do, don't forget everything you learned and never slack up on your bird, especially the dailys. I have seen too many good crew chiefs become complacent after becoming a CE.

Good Luck!

[PFC Bloodsworth]

Thank you for all of your help, i really like talking to people who went before me and are experienced. It really makes things a lot easier. I also appreciate what you told me and i will follow through with the advice.
Hope to talk with ya'll again soon.

Pfc Bloodsworth

[DustoffALSE]

Also, as a brand new Crew Member of US Army Aviation, you will most likely be sent on "snipe hunts". This is a tradition as old as the US Military, if not older. Do not take personal insult or offense to these hunts. Someday you will get the chance to pass on this tradition to the troops that you will lead.

[kondia]

I was a crewchief on a UH-1H at Ft wainwright AK. I too work in a phase team as a mechanic and then as I proved myself I was moved to the flight platoons. Had many hours of good flying until they day came when we did a dynamic roll over in heavy blowing snow. Just made it out alive by the skin of my teeth. From that point on I looked at my flight time differently. I really couldnt put my trust into the rookie pilots. I would only feel comfortable flying with the IPs. I tansfered back into the maintenance plattons where I stayed until my enlistment was up

[SnakeDoctor]

Good sound advice from some good people.

I spent 15 years in aviation and when we were forced to hand our a/c over to the Guard it was a truely sad day.

I have never missed anything in my life as much as I missed my a/c and working on helos. They made me a platoon sergeant in a transport company. They are good boys but it aint the same.

Dont trade your duties even if they are on the gorund in a phase team for anything! Even my worst day flying was better than getting potshots at me running convoys!

Welcome newbie! WHOOOP WHOOOP PING! Another newbie grows his hair!

Welcome aboard and live to fly and fly to live!

Greg Lee

[apache114]

Hi everyone,

I just joined this site today, but I've been viewing it for a while now. Little bit about me; I'm a 64A crew chief, i have 6yrs in with the guard, spent 10 months in Afghanistan for OEF IV. Got a couple friends on this list, the 64 crew from NC Guard. and a crew member from 1/227th. This site got a lot of great info on it. Everybody have a great July 4th.

[edcate]

Take your time at Eustis and learn everything you can and do the same when you get to your unit. Do not try to rush and take short cuts to get on flight status if you do it will be more than you can handle. You will find yourself deployed and having to be the only mechanic on your aircraft and none to little experience to fall back on.

You might be able to get some help from your pilot but do not count on it all they want to here is it ready to go and if it is not you must step up as a PFC and say NO SIR. As everyone has stated take your time with the books and do not bother your section Sgt about getting on flight status that is looked down on just do good work and let that speak for you.

The Blackhawk is a good aircraft but a very complex one learn all you can before you are the crew chief.

[rgeiken]

Hello to all. Great Site...I am SSG Waldo Geiken's widow...now residing in his hometown, Davenport, Iowa. Would love to hear from any old friends...

[Admin]

Rebecca, please check your mail box which is located at the top of the page. I sent you a PM.

[gascan]

Hello, new to the forum. Spent two years in the army, not in aviation, unfortunately. Got to ride on UH-1s, and -58s at Fort Sill though. Always loved Army Aviation, got to meet Mike Novosel at Fort Rucker, and had him sign a copy of his book for me.

Currently a DoD contract firefighter in Iraq. We train with the Kiowa crews quite often, and some of our guys responded when the OH-58 came in on 13 Sep. I am sorry for the loss of this aviator, I pray for these men and women everyday, as we literally watch them patrolling this city every day up here.

Take care all, and what a great site.

gascan