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Renegade 36

I am Brian Jackson, an Assault Helicopter Platoon Leader stationed at Camp Stanley, Republic of Korea. My unit is Bravo Company "the Renegades", 2d Battalion (Assault), 2d Aviation Regiment….the most forward deployed Assault Helicopter Battalion in the world. Our bread and butter is the multi-aircraft air assault under night vision goggles. The air assault operation employs firepower and mobility to engage and destroy the enemy. We pride ourselves on hitting time on target, plus or minus 20 seconds!

The UH-60

The workhorse of the battalion's fleet is the Sikorsky built UH-60 Blackhawk. The UH-60 is a twin turbine engine, single rotor, semimonocoque fuselage, rotary wing helicopter. Its primary mission is tactical transport of troops, supplies and equipment. Armament consists of two 7.62mm machine guns, one on each side of the forward cabin. Its top airspeed is 193 knots, or 386 kph (240 mph). The A model Blackhawk has the capability of carrying an external load of up to 8000 lbs, and can weigh as much as 22,000 lbs. The L model, which has improved engines and transmission, is capable of carrying an external load of up to 9000 lbs, and can weigh up to 23,500 lbs. Optional kit installations for the UH-60 consist of the Extended Range Fuel System (ERFS), infrared suppression, blade de-icing, winterization, static/rappelling kits, or even a mine dispensing system called Volcano. In addition to crew chief and gunner seats, troop seats are installed for up to 13 persons.

The other day, we conducted a mission for the 1-506^th Infantry slinging M966 HMMWV's (Humm Vees). Each vehicle was quite heavy and we could feel the strain of the weight on our aircraft. Our pick-up zone (PZ) was a small ball field surrounded by tall trees and stadium lights. Because the ball field was set in a low area, we had to take care not to exceed aircraft limitations as we lifted our heavy loads out of the area. Since it was my first time lifting something so heavy, I was rather nervous and excited. Needless to say, I had a death grip on the controls on the first lift. After that, I relaxed and got down to the business at hand. The PZ, situated only 4 ½ kilometers from the military demarcation line dividing the DMZ, provides a view of the mountains of North Korea. The mission was a success and we even got a photo of us in action.

Welcome to Warrior Country

Camp Stanley, about six kilometers north of Seoul (South Korea 's capital), is in Warrior Country….that is the land of the 2d Infantry Division. We are about 25 km from the infamous Demilitarized Zone. Situated on the slopes of the Surak Mountains, Camp Stanley is home to approximately 2500 personnel. The post opened in 1955 as an unnamed "tent city" as part of the 11th Engineer Battalion of the 7th Infantry Division. Two years later, the 36th Engineer Brigade relocated to this tent city and named it after its commander, Colonel Stanley. The following year, construction began on its first permanent structures, some of which are still standing and in use today. Over the years, the 2d Infantry Division replaced the 7th Infantry Division. Today Camp Stanley's tenant units include Headquarters, 2d Division Artillery; Headquarters, 2d Aviation Brigade; 2-2 Aviation Regiment; 6-37 Artillery; and 5-5 Air Defense Artillery.

Bravo Company / 2-2 Aviation

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