An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Oct. 21, 2020

Naval and Texas Army Guard aviators join in new partnership

By Ensign Charles E. Spirtos Texas Military Department

NAVAL AIR STATION FORT WORTH JOINT RESERVE BASE, Texas – Aviators from the Texas Army National Guard conducted a familiarization flight with agency partners aboard a CH-47 Chinook helicopter on Oct. 6.

The flight brought four Chinooks to Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base to demonstrate the aircraft's capabilities to Naval personnel stationed at that facility.

The familiarization flight marked the beginning of a partnership between the leadership of NAS Fort Worth JRB; commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and the Texas Military Department.

Commander Allen Grimes, executive officer for NAS JRB Fort Worth, said the Chinook familiarization flight gave him a concrete view of the Texas Army National Guard's aviation mission set and of what operations may look like if the Texas Guard's hangars are incorporated into the JRB.

The Sailors who participated in the flight said it was a good experience.

"I was actually very impressed with the capabilities of the Chinook. The low flying, maneuvering through the woods definitely made me feel as if I was on a mission in a movie scene. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience," said Bianca Henderson, aviation structural mechanic safety equipment first class (AW/SW).

The adjutant general of Texas intends to modernize the Texas National Guard's aviation hangar assets. The Texas Army National Guard has been working closely with the leadership of NAS JRB FTW and NAVFAC for over three years to acquire two additional hangars intended to house CH-47 Chinooks.

The hangers include a ramp space that will allow the Texas Guard to establish a rotary wing operations and maintenance capability at the JRB.

"Moving to JRB for the Texas Army National Guard Chinooks means quicker access to training areas, [increased] ability to depart and return under more challenging weather conditions, and less restrictive airspace," said Lt. Col. Chris D. Hanna, 449th Aviation Support Battalion commander.

In addition to providing the Texas Guard with much-needed hangar space, the initiative will facilitate partnerships between the Army aviators of the Texas National Guard and the Naval aviation community.

Nurturing this partnership will benefit both services as they work to meet the intent of the National Defense Strategy, which relies on "Joint Force military advantages enabling U.S. interagency counterparts to advance U.S. influence and interests."

Once the two hangars are procured, the CFMO will engage in a nearly $6 million renovation project to expand the hangar depth to accommodate the Chinooks and add administrative and support facilities.

"We anticipate receiving the official licenses for the property before the end of 2020," said Brian Stevens, the director of planning and programming for the Texas Military Department's Construction and Facilities Management Office.

"The most important outcome from this event is the partnership that we are building to ensure we will successfully integrate the TXARNG facilities, aviation mission and personnel into the NAS JRB FTW community."

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jennifer Green and U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Regina Stone, commander and senior enlisted leader of the 110th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, case the battalion's colors during the unit's departure ceremony Sept. 20, 2024, in Tifton, Georgia. The ceremony was held in honor of the unit's upcoming mobilization to the U.S. Army European Command area of responsibility.
Georgia National Guard Soldiers Deploying to Central Europe
By Sgt. 1st Class James Braswell, | Sept. 23, 2024
TIFTON, Ga. - A Georgia National Guard unit is heading to Central Europe to provide combat sustainment and support.The Tifton-based Headquarters Company of the 110th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion held a departure...

Texas Alpha team stands with the 176th Engineer Brigade command team just before competing in the X lane at the 52nd Annual Winston P. Wilson Championship, April 29-May 5, 2023, in Little Rock, Arkansas. Left to right, Command Sgt. Maj. Corey Chester, Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Duron, Sgt. 1st Class Charles Stevener, Capt. Ross Buntyn, 1st Lt. Samuel Slichter, Col. Kevin Crawford.
Texas Army Guard Team Wins Marksmanship Contest
By Capt. Christopher Jensen, | May 25, 2023
CAMP ROBINSON, Ark. – Four Texas Army National Guard members won the 52nd Annual Winston P. Wilson Championship in Little Rock April 29-May 5.The National Guard annually hosts the competition to promote marksmanship training...

Two U.S. Army UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters assigned to the New York Army National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment, Assault Helicopter Battalion, attached to the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, conduct deck landings on the USS Lewis B. Puller in the Persian Gulf Nov. 10, 2022. The battalion deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Spartan Shield as a component of the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade of the Texas Army National Guard.
New York Army Guard Aviators Complete Kuwait Mission
By Eric Durr, | May 9, 2023
CAMP BEUHRING, Kuwait - The New York Army National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment, ended its Middle East mission with a transition of authority ceremony at Camp Beuhring on May 6.A third of the 250 Soldiers...