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107th Gives Army ROTC Cadets airlift

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Ray Lloyd
  • 197th Airlift Wing
Niagara Falls Reserve Station --  The 107th Airlift Wing is always ready for a mission and this mission is giving the Canisius College Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Battalion Cadets real world Army deployment training. On April 19th, thirty two Cadets arrived at Niagara Falls Reserve Station and boarded one of the unit's C-130's to be airlifted for their leadership training at Camp Ethan Allen in Burlington, VT.

"The purpose of this training operation is to prepare the cadets for joint training with three other schools at Fort Lewis in Washington State this summer." said Lt. Col. Paul Baker Canisius College Army ROTC Battalion Commander. "This is a great training opportunity for my cadets while exposing them to flight operations with the New York Air National Guard," said Baker

"This demonstrates the interoperability between Army and Air Force." said Lt. Col Greg Miller C-130 Aircraft Commander. "The C-130 is one of the primary aircraft used by the Army on most of their mission over in Afghanistan today." said Miller.

"I'm excited about this flight and mission and this is the first time any of us have flying on a military aircraft and some just even flying too." said Capt. Cadet Bijouette, a junior at Canisius College

When the cadets arrived at the Vermont Air National Guard base to begin their training they were just happy to be part of this experience flying on a C-130.

"I can't wait to tell my dad about this flight." said Cadet Sgt. Osadnick, a Junior ROTC student.

This was great flying in this aircraft." said Cadet Corp. Waite a sophomore ROTC student.

In addition to providing airlift to the army cadets, invaluable training was accomplished by the crew. On the return flight back to Niagara Reserve Station, the aircrew performed assault landing training at Plattsburgh Airfield. Lt. Col. Miller just returned from Afghanistan and was giving Maj. Patrick Neil, C-130 pilot, necessary training. Assault landings are a tactical way of landing on short runways in hostile areas such as those in Afghanistan.

All in a day's work. This is what the 107th Airlift Wing New York Air National Guard, does daily at the Niagara Falls Reserve Station.