Delaware National Guard - DNG News 2002

A Pennsylvania National Guard CH-47 "Chinook" on approach for landing at the 262nd Maintenance Co. in Dagsboro. Photo by CW3 William Buss, 262nd Maintenance Co. (GS)

Thirteen soldiers from the 262nd Maintenance Company (GS), Dagsboro, traveled to Ft. Indiantown Gap for hands-on maintenance training the weekend of November 1-3. The trip, part of an ongoing training mission with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s 3622nd Maintenance Company (GS), was not unusual for the 262nd.

The method of transportation was.

The 262nd’s soldiers made the 140 mile trip in a CH-47 "Chinook" helicopter, courtesy of the PA National Guard.

"It was a definite morale builder, because it’s not often that our troops get to ride in a helicopter," said CW3 William Buss. "I wouldn’t want to deploy into a combat situation this way with a 70-pound toolbox — but we could if we had to."

The trip, which takes over four hours by vehicle— there is no convenient high-speed highway route— took only 78 minutes by helicopter. The quicker trip allowed the troops to get additional hands-on training Sunday morning before flying back to home station.

In addition to making better time, the soldiers enjoyed more personal space. The CH-47’s passenger transport configuration seats 20 comfortably, with gear. If not for the availability of helicopter, the soldiers would have made the journey in a 15-passenger van. "The van wasn’t designed for 13 passengers and their gear," Buss quipped after returning Sunday. He remarked that getting around base at FTIG in a 15-passenger van was much more tolerable knowing that the soldiers wouldn’t be cramping themselves and their gear into it for the trip home.

Hands-on training for the repair teams includes disassembly and rebuilding of Cummins 903 and NHC-250 engines as well as Multifuel engines. The Tech Supply section works with the 3622nd’s Tech Supply section, issuing and receiving parts. The Tech Supply section will also add a Packing and Crating mission in the coming months.

The teams will train at FTIG again in January, February, March and June. "We get to look forward to doing it all again for the next few months," CW3 Buss added with a smile .

Staff Sgt. Brian Tindley supervises while Spc. Faizul Jumarally and Spc. Brandon Abbott disassemble an engine for rebuilding . Photo by CW3 William Buss, 262nd Maintenance Co. (GS)