AnySoldier.Com

A few friends had me look into a web site called AnySoldier.com after doing so added myself as a contact for my company. Within 7 days we received our first box which totally took me by surprise. I made sure to get a picture before everything was taken. Thank you, Heather. From the "SugarBears"

Passsenger Drop-Off

The Chinook is capable of carrying 33 fully equipped ground troops. This is pretty much what it looks like when we drop off pax at one of our LZ's (Landing Zones).

Privately Owned Mosque

A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. Muslims often refer to the mosque by its Arabic name, masjid Arabic: مسجد — pronounced [ˈmæsʤɪd] (pl. masajid Arabic: مساجد — /mæˈsæːʤɪd/). The word "mosque" in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated for Islamic worship, although there is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller, privately owned mosque and the larger, "collective" mosque (masjid jami) (Arabic: جامع), which has more community and social amenities.
The primary purpose of the mosque is to serve as a place where Muslims can come together for prayer. Nevertheless, mosques are known around the world nowadays for their general importance to the Muslim community as well as their demonstration of Islamic architecture. They have developed significantly from the open-air spaces that were the Quba Mosque and Masjid al-Nabawi in the seventh century. Today, most mosques have elaborate domes, minarets, and prayer halls. Mosques originated on the Arabian Peninsula, but now exist on all the world's inhabited continents. They are not only places for worship and prayer, but also places to learn about Islam and meet fellow believers.

Mission Complete

Once a mission is complete we have to fill out two books, one electronic and one paper copy with all the flight information of the day. CW4 Henderson is doing just that while sitting in the ramp gunners chair.

Halloween Carvings

For fun one of the sergeants brought eight plastic pumpkins for different shops to carve. Don't know what anyone won or if it was just a pride thing; but was still nice to see during the holiday.

USO Supporters

The cheerleaders from the Dallas Cowboys showed their support by visiting the troops. They even stopped by were we worked to get a few photo's next to the Chinooks.

Final Product

After five minutes of work, the finished product; 8,000 pounds worth of well needed fuel or water ready for delivery.

Hook up personnel

This is the best my guys could do on showing what it looks like through the hole. You can see a Marine on the load underneath the helicopter handing or hooking the load on the clevis. Keep in mind that the Chinook is only 10-15 feet off the ground. Also, the Chinook can generate up to 40,000 volts of static electricity so there are at least one other personnel on the ground with a grounding pole. This pole takes the static electricity from the helicopter and sends it to the ground instead of our troop’s bodies.

The Third set of eyes

This is a picture taken by one of the door gunners. The ramp gunner is in the hole directing the pilots up front. Here are a few things the pilot may hear: Hold your forward, hold your left, hold your right, come back 2 feet for me sir, clevis in hand, load on the hook, come up 15 feet sir, slings are tight, load is off the ground 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, load is clear for flight)

The Hook Up

Once the dust has settled considerabley, I'm directed of the the external load by three crewmembers. Left Gunner, Right Gunner, and the Ramp gunner has began to get in the Cargo Hook Loading Hole. As a team, the Gunners set the aircraft up and make sure that I do not get to close to the personnel on the ground that his holding or placing the cling on the clevis.

Preparing to pick up an external load

Here is a picture of me getting set up to pick up a 8,000 pound fuel blivet. You have to keep in mind that the Chinook flying weighs about 30,000 pounds so she has to produce that much wind to keep her at a hover. Let’s just say, after 2-3 minutes of hovering in the same spot the area is cleared of most of the dust.

Ramp Gunner

A picture of my ramp gunner (SSG Weber), if you look at the picture below you can also see him on the ramp from the other aircraft

Just flying along

The crew from the other aircraft was kind enough to take my aircrafts picture on one of my day missions.

Finished Mission

Once the mission is finished I get the crew together for the picture.

Inside of a Chinook with the seats down

When I fly a flag we place the flag inside the chinook and tie it up on the ceiling. Once finished I get everyone together to hold the flag to add the picture to the certificate.

Day Pictures

Another picture of a town we flew next to during my day mission. Really lets you know how good you have it back home!

Day Mission

Flew about 7 hours and had my door gunners take pictures along the route. Sometime you can be flying by and wonder why in the world you would build something in the middle of nowhere. Times you think how people can live in this kind of environment. Then your flying a long with nothing to see for days and then there is a little city below you.