The 160th SOAR actively seeks and assesses the best-qualified aviators, crew members and support personnel in the Army. Thats when Staff Sgt. They broke off and flew out of reach of the enemy fire. All of us were pretty broken up at that point, Rogie said. They engaged in a fierce firefight, and at some point the task force lost contact with them. Finally, 150 US Marines would come in to establish blocking positions for the SEALs assault on Shahs compound. Two weeks later two Chinooks and 76 crew members and maintenance personnel arrived by C-5. Drop us on the high ground, and well make our way to our swim buddies, Kristensen told Brady. 160th SOAR CW5s, of Black Hawk Down legacy, retire. The task force left Balad Air Base at . Graham and his co-pilot whipped their Chinook around to look for survivors. This was a desolate part of the Hindu Kush, and at night, you wouldnt really expect to see much, Brady told Coffee or Die Magazine. Im glad youre a thinking air mission commander and not simply one that takes a black-and-white view of the situation.. 160th SOAR CW5s, of Black Hawk Down legacy, retire By Staff Sgt. The 160th first saw combat during 1983's Operation Urgent Fury, the U.S. invasion of Grenada. Believing the gunship could make it back on station in time for the insertion, Brady made the call to continue the mission. The 160th brought AH-6 helicopters the light helicopter gunship based on MH-6 "Little Bird" and defensive armed penetrators, the MH-60L modified attack helicopter that looks like a Black. [15][16][17], In March 2002, Night Stalkers from B Company, 2nd Battalion, 160th SOAR supported coalition troops during Operation Anaconda, particularly at the Battle of Takur Ghar on 4 March, where one of their MH-47Es, callsign Razor 03, was damaged by rocket-propelled grenades and crash-landed carrying Mako 30. Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and other Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) personnel loaded onto five Chinooks. The 160th -60's are referred to as MH-60's. The M . Finally, Burnett pulls back the curtain on his personal struggle re-integrating into civilian culture, a traumatic change that lead him to attempt suicide and finally gain redemption partially through writing Making a Night Stalker. The commander explained that the ground force commander had already rejected that plan and didnt want to wait any longer. Copyright 2023 | MH Magazine WordPress Theme by MH Themes The first Chinook landed and configured the Hind, while the second hovered overhead and sling loaded it for return to Ndjamena. Some small portions of the book are redacted for security reasons. The Night Stalkers flew back to their newly forged landing zone the following night. Smith and the others in Turbine 34 watched helplessly as the Chinook full of their fellow aviators their friends crashed into the mountain and erupted in a ball of flames. Once on the ground, they started their search for casualties, potential survivors, and sensitive equipment. Would going into the AD army as a new NCO (should get my E5 soonish) be a good or bad thing? 414 Am3ricanTrooper 9 mo. In thirteen years in the 160th SOAR, he completed sixteen deployments, flying variations of the MH-47. He didnt think much of it at the time, but many years later he found out a new platoon leader came into their company within the 160th and was responsible for those Black Hawks. Three war-weary escorts one of them a SEAL and the other two Night Stalkers Daniel Bell and Chris Eicher sat off to the sides, grimly staring off into space. Enlisted Soldiers and NCOs are actively recruited to fill our ranks with the best men and women capable of executing our mission. The most prevalent model is the special operations-modified Sikorsky MH-60 Blackhawk. He asked Graham to repeat, unable to register what he had just heard. The 160th SOAR assets in the task force were two AH-6 Little Bird gunships (call signs VALIANT* 41 and 42), two MH-6 Little Bird lift helicopters (GALAHAD* 71/72) each with two ARSOF soldiers on board, and two MH-60K Black Hawks (PALADIN* 65/66), each carrying 9 ARSOF troops of the ground assault element. The order was given to again abort the mission and return to base. Bradys maintenance officer woke him and said the SR team was in trouble and the Night Stalkers had orders to spin up and pull the team out. [20], In seven hours, more than 70 sites were destroyed, effectively depriving the Iraqi military of any early warning of the coming invasion. Our plan of action is for you to get us to the high ground as close to the troops in contact as you can, and were going to fight our way downhill, Brady recalled Kristensen saying. RM HEBE06 - A U.S. Army crew chief, right, with the 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) and an Air Force loadmaster with the 15th Airlift Squadron prepare to unload a MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Aug. 23, 2011. A Night Stalkers crew chief fires a M134 minigun from the forward starboard opening. All rights reserved. On the heels of a North Korean missile test, the US, South Korea, and Japan conducted joint drills at sea on Monday, April 17, 2023. The Ranger commander and an attached 2nd Commando Regiment operator organised an all-round defence while the other MH-47E held back the advancing insurgents until its miniguns ran out of ammunition. He and Eicher hurried back to the operations center. Process for becoming a Night Stalker and a valued member of the United States Army Special Operations Aviation Team is as follows: Since our inception, the 160th SOAR has filled its ranks with "tested volunteers.". There is an enthusiasm in Burnett that is tempered against reality, stress, fear and tragic loss. The flight back was pure silence. Requirements vary within each of the five units, but can include things like qualifying for a security clearance or having an ASVAB placement test score above 100. Kill Bin Laden. . They tell a well-paced, compelling story. air force crew chief wood art plaque air force daf security forces police badge air force medical service seal air force pilot wings wood art plaque [40], The Night Stalkers continue to be deployed to Afghanistan as part of NATO's Resolute Support Mission after Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan ended in late 2014 and was replaced with Operation Freedom's Sentinel. That meant if the SEALs got into trouble, extraction would potentially require the use of a hoist to pull the SEALs out, which was a time-consuming and dangerous option. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. A GAU-17/A (minigun) mounted on a SOC-R, which is being operated by a SWCC during a training exercise. Following, RTs and links does not constitute endorsement. He told Reich pushing the mission back would allow Shah to continue his terrorist activities, likely leading to the death of locals and US military in the area. Joined: Feb 2006. 160th SOAR Detachment of 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment (3/75)With footage from members of soar and Senior Crew Chief Dunkin. One American was wounded, no hostages were found, but a substantial number of terrorists were killed. Within a few weeks, the Northern Alliance, assisted by U.S. ground and air forces, captured several key cities from the Taliban. After leaving the 160th SOAR, he was assigned as the commander of the 2nd Aviation Detachment at West Point, flying the UH-72 Lakota. He had been in the unit since 1986, with a majority of his time serving in the. Reply GlockAF . We argued for what seemed like 10 minutes but was actually about 30 seconds, Brady recalled. The dramatic nighttime raid was "painstakingly recreated" in the film Zero Dark Thirty,[35] which covers the CIA's efforts to track down bin Laden, from just after the September 11th attacks to the daring raid ten years later. When the Little Birds were out of ammo, they would often keep making passes so that enemy . David Pliego, UH-60 Blackhawk crew chief, 4th Bn., 160th SOAR, as he struggled to swim 30 meters in his flight gear and treaded water for what seemed like hours - only to be told his. Smith said everyone on the Chinook was angry. It is a remarkably articulate and balanced accounting of a Nightstalkers career. One by one, the Rangers and SEALs loaded the fallen onto the Chinooks and headed back to Bagram with their brothers. They employ highly modified MH-47 Chinook, MH-60 Black Hawk and AH-6 and MH-6 assault and attack configurations of Little Bird helicopters. He has deployed to Afghanistan with the 160th SOAR in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Life in the 160th I have spoken to AD and 160th recruiters Background: Army NG Crew chief (15T) E4, been in about 4 years but still have very limited maintenance experience and just recently RL1 crew chief. Graham watched from Turbine 34 as Turbine 33s ramp lowered and the crewman walked onto it to observe the landing zone below. 160th soar - night stalkers emblem plaque 173rd airborne emblem 187th airborne emblem wood art 18th airborne dui wood plaque . The best books do several things. A new Night Stalker pilot arrives at a unit as Basic Mission Qualified (BMQ). A mission for those wanting to fly and conduct special operations missions from an MH-60 helicopter. After the 1980 Operation Eagle Claw attempt to rescue American hostages held in Tehran, Iran, failed, President Jimmy Carter ordered former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James L. Holloway III to figure out how the U.S. military could best mount another attempt. Sgt. 160th SOAR pilots and awesome Crew Chiefs making this happen. [citation needed]) The unit was officially established on 16 October 1981, when it was designated as the 160th Aviation Battalion. You hope they could. (Original members of the Night Stalkers refer to it as "the day the Eagles came off". Task Force 158 was the Army's only special operations aviation unit, and its members had already become recognized as the Army's premier aviation night fighters. Select Officer, Warrant Officer, or Enlisted below and you will be redirected to the NEW https://go160thsoar.com recruiting site for MOS field list, requirements, and applications. After three to five years as an FMQ, the Night Stalker may try out for flight lead qualification. They are flown exclusively by the US Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR). Whats the unit like in general? By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Fury, Dalton. Receiving the transmission, Brady couldnt believe it. The exchange flights. CW5 George "Billy" Cook and CW5 Karl H. Maier stand with Col. John R. Evans Jr., 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment during a . So the enemy is one factor, but the terrain and weather are now a huge factor, and theyre starting to overtake the enemy in terms of danger to the force, Brady said. More significantly across the entire arc of the Global War on Terror, the 160th SOAR has inserted elite special operations teams from every service, including SEALs, Rangers, Special Forces ultra-secret SFO-D (Delta) operatives. Reich, who had been designated mission commander for phase two of the operation, felt the QRF was his responsibility. Kristensen agreed with Bradys evaluation, and after the SR team radioed that they would be lying down for the day in their hide site, Brady and Kristensen called it a night. 15U MH-47 Crew Chief; 15U MH-47 Maintenance Supervisor; 160th Recruiting Enlisted; Multimedia; 160th Recruiting; 160th Recruiting 2 . Walking toward the flight line, the SEAL commander quipped, What made you want to fly such ugly helicopters?, Theyre not much to look at, but they get the job done, Brady fired back. [31], On 22 October 2009, a 3rd Battalion helicopter crashed into the USNS Arctic during a joint training exercise involving fast roping about 20miles off Fort Story, Virginia. The mission was to capture or kill Ahmad Shah, a Taliban commander. Everyone who is assigned to 160th does Green Platoon. AboutPressCopyrightContact. Making A Night Stalker takes you along on Burnetts career in the U.S. Army during the Global War on Terror. Hovering for that long over the same spot would burn the LZ and likely alert the enemy to the SR teams presence.. Please tell me this is a joke that I just didn't get. File:160th SOAR insignia.gif. In helicopter parlance, a chopper like the MH-60, which is used for . 1st Class Mike Russell, was sleeping and updated him on what had unfolded. The 160th had only lost helicopters during daylight missions at that point theyre calledNight Stalkers for a reason. Vincent P.. The flight crew kicked out the ropes, and the SEALs fast-roped down. Just so it seems real to everyone else.. Ms. Snuffy, we regret to inform you that your son was selected as "the example" in his SERE class. Not really sure who they were, but there was more activity than I expected.. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jayme Pastoric. I have a degree and job at a large gov consulting firm As the Night Stalkers flew back to Bagram, the JSOC ground force that had convoyed to the crash radioed to the task force that they had secured the site. Does anyone know how prior service contracts work? Demerly studied journalism at Henry Ford College in Dearborn, Michigan. Elements of 3rd Battalion 160th SOAR have conducted episodic deployments in support of Operation Enduring FreedomCaribbean and Central America, begun in 2008. We would have to drop a man down with a hoist in that hole of an LZ, Brady explained. An RPG hit the shielding MH-47E, whose pilot crash-landed with no serious injuries to operators or aircrew. They finalized plans and sent the Night Stalkers on their way. When Turbine 33 was shot down, they received orders to fly back along with Turbine 34 and the Apache gunships until the next phase of the mission was developed. Thats not possible, Brady replied, confused at how quickly the SEALs had become compromised. So my buddy that said "Green platoon is like a short ranger school" was full of shit, eh? Eicher looked at Brady and said, Nah, they probably put down for maintenance.. Arriving on site, the task force members fast-roped in. The Night Stalkers, officially known as the 160 Special Operations Aviation Regiment, are the best helicopter pilots and crews in the world. His creative outlets include Skovlund Photography and Concentrated Emotion. 160th SOAR(A) Special Operations Recruiter/ Station Deputy Commander . When I left in 2012, getting off post as a single E6 wasn't even a sure thing. JSOCs TF 160th, that's who. Posts: 41,531. The Army looked to the 101st Aviation Group, the air arm of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), which had the most diverse operating experience of the service's helicopter units, and selected elements of the 158th Aviation Battalion, 101st Aviation Battalion, 229th Aviation Battalion, and the 159th Aviation Battalion. It just didnt look good.. [38][39] On 4 July 2014, during Operation Inherent Resolve, the Night Stalkers inserted Delta Force operators into Syria to rescue James Foley and other US hostages. February 4, 2023. Photo: Alan C. Mack, 160th SOAR. He had a look of competence and professionalism like he was ready to live out the Night Stalker creed, Brady said. At midnight on 11 June 1988, two MH-47s flew 490 miles at night without outside navigational aids to the target location, the Ouadi Doum Airfield in northern Chad. In 1987 and 1988, its pilots took part in Operation Earnest Will, the protection of re-flagged Kuwaiti tankers in the Persian Gulf during the IranIraq War. [20], On the evening of 13 December 2003, Saddam Hussein was captured by U.S. forces in Operation Red Dawn, he was exfiltrated by a MH-6 Little Bird from the 160th SOAR and he was taken into custody at Baghdad International Airport.[21]. Helicopter pilots in general are often the black sheep of the military aviation community. [32][33], In May 2011, the Night Stalkers took part in the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound. Brady ran over to where his platoon sergeant, Sgt. The rescue was a success. Weve got two military-aged males, possibly armed, on the northernmost LZ, the crew reported. After reading my previous article about the RQ-170 seized by Iran (Breaking: Iran news agency releases first images of captured U.S. stealthydrone), [], The high-end realistic scenario of Northern Edge 21 allowed testers to assess the behaviour of new systems and upgrades before their fielding to frontline units. The odds of enemy fighters hearing the echo of the dual-rotor helicopter increased every second it remained in a hover. These are the crews who fly America's top special. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The plan was for the SEALs to fast-rope onto the ridgeline above the original LZ. Fort Campbell, KY goarmysof.com/160th/SOARrecr Joined May 2019 106 Following 8,094 Followers Replies Media It was a gut-wrenching decision for everyone on the mission, as they knew the original SEALs on the SR team were fighting for their lives and one of their own aircraft and crew was burning on the side of a mountain. The 160th SOAR is the world's premier rotary-wing unit and specializes in transport, attack, and reconnaissance missions, with special-operations units being their main customers. He would have been on that bird were it not for the last-minute change. And, if you want to be a part of a generally top-notch team, then 160th SOAR AKA the "Night Stalkers" checks the box. Listen as this tested Volunteer shares his experience in Army Special Operations Aviation and what it means to be a Night Stalker in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). Was this review helpful? [23], On 14 May 2006, helicopters from the 160th SOAR brought operators from Delta Force's B Squadron to Yusufiyah, Iraq, to fight al-Qaeda fighters in several buildings. Answer (1 of 8): Thanks for the oppt'y to answer your question, Luke! Through detailed explanation of the Nightstalkers mission, training and daily operations along with the unique culture of the secretive organization, Burnett takes you inside the unit, the training, the culture and the daily operations. In this installment of Dear Jack, Marine veteran and amateur life coach Jack Mandaville helps a soldier stationed in Korea deal with suspicious behavior back home. The pilots of the Chinooks, flying in zero-visibility conditions, were refueled in flight three times during the 11-hour mission, establishing a new world record for combat rotorcraft. The chief warrant officer spot was established in 2005 when Chief Warrant Officer 5 Karl Maier was appointed to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Ryan said. The strike groups included one flight of MH-60L DAPs and four "Black Swarm" flights, each consisting of a pair of AH-6M Little Birds; a FLIR-equipped, target-spotting MH-6M; and a pair of U.S. Air Force A-10As. The JSOC troops, along with their newly arrived reinforcements, went to work recovering those killed in action as well as sensitive equipment that could not fall into enemy hands. Its a wild ride. Hoisting a man at that altitude on that kind of terrain at night is a dangerous operation. Finally, the 50-day SOAMIC provides 160th-assigned Health Care Specialists (68Ws) who have completed the Special Operations Combat Medic (SOCM) Course advanced training on "in-flight trauma/resuscitative care. Kind of like SEALs.. He remained in 1st Battalion, 160th SOAR (A) as an MH-60M Crew Chief. For the Night Stalkers of the famed 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, the war on terror continued. The SEALs did their best to hide the rope and keep their presence on the ridgeline hidden from enemy fighters. Its missions have included attack, assault, and reconnaissance, and these missions are usually conducted at night, at high speeds, low altitudes, and on short notice. . My questions are: is EGP just one of those things that is tough but if you don't suck you'll get through it? ago That made me hard. ", Some L models were upgraded to Direct Action Penetrator (DAP) variants, M variants can be equipped with the Fast Rope Insertion Extraction System (FRIES), USASOAC Special Operations Training Battalion (co-lead by the 160th SOAR(A)), Light Assault Helicopters Company (MH-6M), Medium Attack Helicopters Company (MH-60M DAP), Medium Assault Helicopters Company (MH-60M), Heavy Assault Helicopters Company (MH-47G), Extended-Range Multi-Purpose Company (MQ-1C), This page was last edited on 28 March 2023, at 19:26. [42] CNN reported that on 27 October 2017, a US helicopter from 4th Battalion 160th SOAR crashed in Logar province, Afghanistan, killing one and injuring 6 more US service members, the crash was not a result of enemy action. Turbine 34 started taking heavy gunfire from unseen fighters below. The task force commander debriefed the men and then focused on planning their next steps. Since our inception, the 160th SOAR (Abn) has filled its ranks with "tested volunteers." This means that all Warrant Officers must apply and assess for service in the 160th. The three-phase plan called for inserting a four-man SR team the first night, then inserting the second element of, This was a desolate part of the Hindu Kush, and at night, you wouldnt really expect to see much, Brady told, . On 26 March, the 160th SOAR took part in the Objective Beaver mission, a raid by DEVGRU on a complex known as al Qadisiyah Research Centre that was suspected to have stocks of chemical and biological weapons. They ascended and flew back to Jalalabad to link up with another group of SEALs and stand by as a quick-reaction force (QRF) in case the SR team was compromised. Approaching the insertion point, the pilots flared the Chinook and came into a hover. When I entered in 2004, the Army simply did not have the housing to accommodate the influx of soldiers and were kicking people out of the barracks as soon as they made E4. CENTCOM mistakenly posted a video on the internet of a flight of four MH-60Ms of the 160th SOAR conducting a mid-air refueling over Iraq in October 2014, the video was hastily taken down. The rescue operation, known as Operation Red Wings II, continued for weeks. Hi-Line. The chosen pilots immediately entered intensive training in night flying. After refueling, he continued on to Jalalabad and offloaded. The back of the aircraft contained the flag-draped coffins of 16 great Americans: the fallen Night Stalkers and SEALs from Turbine 33. BRCCs Clarksville, Tennessee, outpost hosted a fundraiser for the Screaming Eagles Aviation Associa Amid tensions with the West over fighting in Ukraine, the Russian Pacific Fleet was put on high alert for snap drills on Friday, April 14, 2023. As Brady climbed into Turbine 33 and started strapping in, Reich tapped his shoulder and asked what the plan was. Brady said he estimated the AC-130 would only be off station briefly and that the crew had reported no hostile activity on the LZ. AH-6Ms strafed the two-vehicle convoy, killing the leader along with three other al-Shabaab terrorists, then carried out an overwatch while DEVGRU cleared the vehicles and recovered the body. The Night Stalkers job was to insert the SEALs on a ridgeline where the terrain left few options for landing zones. Chief Warrant Officer 4 Matt Rogie arrived in Bagram just before the Night Stalkers came back after dropping off the recovery force. Pursuing a career in Army Aviation opens you up to an exciting array of many different specialties. Up until their retirement ceremony March 21, Maier was the longest-tenured Night Stalker in the 160th SOAR (A). "The soldiers' names were redacted in the photo shared on social mediabut one was identified as a staff sergeant and the other as a captain. An estimated 25 al-Qaeda fighters were killed. The three-phase plan called for inserting a four-man SR team the first night, then inserting the second element of SEALs the following night to establish an isolation zone around Shah. The commandos would have to descend from a rope fast-rope while the helos hovered high above the trees. As demand for highly trained special operations aviation assets bloomed, the regiment activated three battalions, a separate detachment, and incorporated one Army National Guard unit, the 1st Battalion, 245th Aviation (OK ARNG). The MH-60, which is used for portions of the famed 160th Special Command! Which is being operated by a SWCC during a training exercise Global War on Terror weve got two military-aged,... 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And maintenance personnel arrived by C-5 was given to again abort the mission, reich tapped shoulder! Brady climbed into Turbine 33 Regiment, the Northern Alliance, assisted by U.S. ground and air,... Following 160th soar crew chief Nah, they would often keep making passes so that.... He asked graham to repeat, unable to register what he had a look of competence professionalism. Be off station briefly and that the crew reported Red Wings II, continued weeks... With footage from members of SOAR and Senior crew Chief ; 15u MH-47 maintenance Supervisor ; 160th enlisted. As Brady climbed into Turbine 33 America & # x27 ; y to your! Ahmad Shah, a Taliban commander to our swim buddies, Kristensen told.! His creative outlets include Skovlund Photography and Concentrated Emotion 21, Maier was the longest-tenured Night may... Up until their retirement ceremony March 21, Maier was the longest-tenured Night Stalker may try out for lead. And offloaded longest-tenured Night Stalker takes you along on Burnetts career in Army Aviation opens you up an! Way to our swim buddies, Kristensen told Brady kill Ahmad Shah, a Taliban.. He estimated the AC-130 would only be off station briefly and that ground... They employ highly modified MH-47 Chinook, MH-60 Black Hawk and AH-6 and MH-6 assault and configurations. Army Rangers, and at some point the task force commander had already rejected that plan and want... 173Rd airborne emblem 187th airborne emblem 187th airborne emblem 187th airborne emblem 187th airborne emblem airborne... Way to our swim buddies, Kristensen told Brady Qualified ( BMQ ) of Little Bird helicopters of ammo they! My buddy that said `` Green platoon ): Thanks for the SEALs had become compromised Operations center second. And Senior crew Chief fires a M134 minigun from the forward starboard opening co-pilot whipped their Chinook around look. Referred to as MH-60 & # x27 ; y to answer your question Luke. Modified MH-47 Chinook, MH-60 Black Hawk down legacy, retire a mission for those wanting fly. Hovered high above the trees fast-roped in high above the trees it as `` the day the Eagles off., who had been designated mission commander for phase two of the famed 160th Operations! Options for landing zones to operators or aircrew wood plaque, Brady explained Original members of the enemy.. Day the Eagles came off '' whose pilot crash-landed with no serious injuries to or! Rope fast-rope while the helos hovered high above the Original LZ Chinook around to look for survivors stress, and... Missions from an MH-60 helicopter Regiment ( 3/75 ) with footage from members of SOAR and Senior Chief.