This past summer, I was fortunate enough to have the Army send me to Airborne School and the Helicopter Flight Training Program (HFTP). I traveled to Fort Benning, GA for Airborne School at the end of May. I had previously only been down south in the winter months, so the heat and humidity were definitely a factor to adjust to. Being around Soldiers, Marines, Airmen and Sailors of all ranks was a good learning experience. I was able to talk to a lot of people about the challenges they face in their positions, which will help me understand where Soldiers are coming from in the future. Going through the same training that countless others have been through was a humbling thought while I was learning how to jump out of an airplane. Jump Week was an amazing experience that I’ll never forget. Landing on the drop zone for the fifth and final time of Airborne School was a great feeling, knowing that I had earned my wings. I hope that I get the chance to jump even more throughout my career.

Prior to HFTP, I was required to pass a flight physical and the AFAST, which is an exam that anyone looking to become a pilot is required to pass. The training took place in Grand Forks, ND throughout July at the University of North Dakota and Grand Forks International Airport. I was amazed at how quickly we were flying in helicopters, as I was learning to fly with my instructor only four days after I arrived. Every weekday we also had ground school, which was classroom instruction to learn all about the helicopter we were flying, rules and regulations, aerodynamics, etc. We had four tests that we had to pass in order to pass the program. Flying itself was a major struggle at first. My instructor was laid back and positive, which made the whole experience even more fun. It was a blast to fly, especially when I started getting the hang of hovering and all of the different maneuvers. Eventually my instructor was just there for the ride as he told me what to do. At the end of the program I was able to solo the helicopter, flying traffic patterns around the airport. I also passed a stage check with a different instructor. The training went by quickly, and I have already been itching to go fly again. I really appreciate the opportunity the Army gave me to go through this training. I was able finally figure out that I wanted to be an aviation officer, and the Army paid for all of my flight instruction while I was there.

Both periods of training I went through over the summer helped me be more confident in myself and my ability to quickly learn new skills. I acquired a new appreciation for what Soldiers have to go through every day, and the skill it takes to be in an Airborne unit or fly helicopters in training, let alone a combat zone. I now have the opportunity to be in an Airborne unit in the future and now have a goal of become an Army aviator. I can’t say enough about how happy I am that the Army was able to provide both of these experiences in one summer.