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NJ Guardsmen learn path to pilot

  • Published
  • By Sgt. Michael Davis
  • 444th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  More than 20 Soldiers and Marines came to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst June 22, 2013, to learn if they have the skills to become New Jersey Army National Guard Aviation Warrant Officers.

The open house, hosted by the National Guard's Alpha Company, 1-150 Assault Helicopter Battalion, was designed to explain the requirements needed to become a Warrant Officer in the aviation field and the benefits that come with the job.

Candidates learned about the two paths to becoming a warrant officer, which depend on their current military rank and experience, as well as the four tracks within the aviation military occupational specialty: maintenance, safety, tactical operations and standardization. No matter what path or track the candidate pursues, the fundamentals are consistent: safety and training.

"Always have a level of excellence," said Chief Warrant Officer 5 James DenHartog. "It's all about planning, execution and mission. We make decisions that affect the lives of the Soldiers in the air and the ones on the ground."

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Bryan Breza wanted to connect on a personal level and shared some of his feelings about doing the job as an Aviation Warrant Officer.

"The reason we're in the air is because of the guys on the ground," Breza said. "Making sure the they are taken care of is the most important thing."

Candidates also learned about the Assault Helicopter Battalion's storied history. Its lineage can be traced back to the 1960s when the N.J. National Guard's Aviation was established with Bell H-13s at Army Aviation Support Facility No. 1 at Trenton Mercer County Airport and a limited flight facility at Linden Airport.

Since its inception, the battalion has continued to provide critical support for both foreign and domestic missions, in addition to deployment and mobilization capacities throughout areas such as Kosovo, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan and most recently across the Garden State during Hurricane Sandy.

After the presentations, candidates went for a ride in one of the Aviation Battalion's UH-60 Black Hawks over the Pine Barrens area of New Jersey. The ride showcased both tactical and evasive maneuvers including low and high flying, sharp drops, steep inclines and hard banks to the left and right.

"We're excited to have this open house and also take the recruits up in Blackhawks to give them a real idea of the aviation field," said Breza, a resident of Florence, N.J.

The Aviation Battalion is looking for service members who are eager to accept the challenge to become a warrant officer and fly the military's most versatile helicopter. Contact for more information on how to become a warrant officer.