The mission and my precious cargo are my concern. The regiment headquarters is collocated with the 1st and 2nd battalions and the Special Operations Aviation Training Battalion at Fort Campbell, Ky.; 3rd Bn. 16. If taking to the sky and flying challenging missions sounds like the career for you, consider applying to be a part of 160th SOAR. They are highly trained and ready to accomplish the very toughest missions in all environments, anywhere in the world, day or night, with unparalleled precision. *The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. The physical aspect of the assessment is over after the swim test my opinion is that youre not there to showcase your PT ability; although, under performing at PT will definitely be noticed. Honestly, be sure you let the 160th know that you're interested. With robust designs and vintage classic style, discover the heritage of military timepieces today! The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment is in the highest manning category," Bymer explained in a statement. Then you need a few outstanding OERs that demonstrate that you are quantitatively doing it all better than your peers and get at least 500 hours flying, or at least 50 hours Pilot in Command (PIC), then you volunteer. 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR). From large-scale combat to small-unit raids, be the one in control of the battlefield. 160th will pay big bucks to have you as a medic. Today, Night Stalkers continue to develop and employ new technology and tactics, techniques and procedures for the battlefield. These are the. Sorry, this post was deleted by the person who originally posted it. Go out and do it. If youre not used to swimming with that stuff it will definitely degrade your performance. . As a 91E you know what you're gonna do if you don't make it to 160th? Since the unit's founding in the early 1980s, the Night Stalkers have participated in almost all of the US military's special-operations missions and campaigns. Soldiers of the 160th have been actively and continuously engaged in the combat operations since October 2001. Dont just imagine what you can do. How do I become a 160th SOAR volunteer? Coker, who wrote a thrilling account of a Night Stalker at war, participated in almost all major operations in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. The CPT visited the SORB to submit an application to be assessed and trained as a Night Stalker. 160th SOAR. Members of this unit are three-time volunteers: for the Army, for airborne training and for the regiment. Company A, SOATB provides the Officer Combat Skills Program of Instruction (POI). I got selected to become a flight warrant and will go to WOCS in the fall. And there may be rain or snow around.. Today, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment continues a sustained and active forward presence in the U.S. Central Command area of operations at multiple locations in support of operations Enduring Freedom. It starts with a week-long assessment. Remain professional, motivated, and use the experience to develop professionally. At the end of they call theoretical course work, the best and most capable pilots are selected to move on to more arduous practical training that forms the pipeline into Russias special operations aviation units. The company has three flight platoons (A/MH-6, MH-60, and MH-47) and two special sections (Medical and Unmanned Aircraft Systems [UAS]). Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. Invitations explain the CAB population and aviators standing among their peers, helping an individual understand why the 160th expressed interest in them. For the physical stuff I went to Clayton (founder of the Para Bellum Athlete Program). He holds the unenviable distinction of getting shot down by insurgents in Iraq and then hunting them down alongside Delta Force operators minutes later. His 160th SOAR air crews had been going after Osama bin Laden since the beginning. The professionalism and capabilities of Army special operations aviation are developed through a train as you fight mentality. Russian pilots are training to fly in teams of Mi-35 Strike Helicopters alongside Mi-8 Transport helicopters, with teams of eight special operators aboard the Mi-8 for insertion. Be part of an elite group of individuals trained to lead and succeed in defending and protecting the country. A/MH-6 Little Bird pilots in A and B Companies, 1/160th SOAR can take the 10-day Maintenance Test Pilot (MTP) course and/or the 23-day Instructor Pilot course for those airframes (because the 160th is the only unit in the Army with those helicopters). 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. Plan a route from start to finish, and if you are able to fly it, do so using nothing more than a compass, a watch, and a map both day and night. National Guard and Reserve Officers must contact a 160th SOAR recruiter to discuss any transfer requirements before beginning the application process. Made up of five specialized units, each bringing their own unique strength, Takes on the Armys most challenging missions, Requires extensive training to ensure physical and mental resiliency, They are combat experts who specialize in conducting raids within enemy territory, They take on high priority and high-pressure missions, They require Airborne qualification, a General Technical score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)the Armys placement testof at least 105, and extensive training, They are guerrilla warfare experts who use unexpected and unconventional techniques, They fight terrorists and insurgents abroad, They require secret security clearance eligibility, Airborne qualification, an ASVAB placement test GT score of at least 100, and extensive training, They are aviation experts who use cutting-edge aircraft to surprise enemiesanywhere and any time, They operate the most advanced military aircraft in the world, including Black Hawk helicopters, They are communication experts who persuade our allies and enemies to act in our nations best interest, They leverage cultural expertise, language skills, and military deception to sway opinions and actions, They require secret security clearance eligibility, an ASVAB placement test GT score of at least 100, and extensive training, They are diplomacy experts who help reduce instability and enable local governments abroad, They partner with key officials and leaders to better understand, help, and influence local populations. Officer candidates must complete SERE before attending Green Platoon. The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiments mission is to organize, equip, train, resource and employ Army special operations aviation forces worldwide in support of contingency missions and warfighting commanders. Soldiers of the 160th pioneered the Armys nighttime flying techniques. Look at TC 3-04.4, Fundamentals of Flight, Chapter 5. The weapon was not suitable for our needs, and the 160th went to the M-4 carbine, a much better weapon for our use on the ground or engaging targets from the helo.". This brief article first explains the assessment and selection process for officer and warrant officer volunteers.1 Next, it details how officers are trained to become Night Stalkers in the Special Operations Aviation Training Battalion (SOATB), led by Lieutenant Colonel Bradley D. Osterman and Sergeant Major Marcus B. Buker*. These are the pilots and stealthy helicopters that flew SEAL Team 6 operators to the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. Special Operations is the collective force made up of the Army Rangers, Special Forces (Green Berets), Night Stalkers, Psychological Operations, and Civil Affairs, whereas Special Forces (nicknamed the Green Berets) is an individual unit within Special Operations. Candidates must pass increasingly difficult runs and ruck marches to graduate, while the arduous "team building" day tests their commitment and mental stamina. The enlisted version has an average attrition rate of 40%. Learn more about Army life here. A panel then reviews each candidate's package, which is like a college application but with a psychological evaluation. The airframe-specific training lasts between 71 days and 85 days, depending on the aircraft, and it takes about two years for a new pilot to be fully mission qualified. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. If youre looking to be a Night Stalker, youll need to make hard work and professionalism your top priorities in your Army career early on. Those who have not yet completed it must arrange to do so at Fort Rucker or Fort Bragg, NC. As an AH-6 light attack helicopter pilot, your primary duty is to learn the AH-6 helicopter and learn how to conduct surgical engagements with mini-guns and rockets. Sign up for notifications from Insider! The Night Stalkers' newest addition, the secretive Echo Company, flies the MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft system. (Only officers and warrant officers can become pilots, though enlisted soldiers can technically be pilots if they fly UAVs with E Company.). Even if you dont assess successfully, the entire process will leave you with something to work on: professionally, academically, physically, and emotionally. What mistakes did you make during the process? If yes, contact a recruiter, submit an application, assess, and if accepted, you're accepted into Green Platoon. what is green platoon like currently? Think of it as flight school Basic Warfighter Skills (BWS) but on steroids. It will overload you, and your ability to prioritize will be tested like never before. They are highly trained and ready to accomplish the very toughest missions in all environments, anywhere in the world, day or night, with unparalleled precision. Bad weather, enemy fire, and tricky terrain are all secondary to the fact that youre under pressure to regularly fly missions in the darkest part of the night. Note: IAW USSOCOM sanitization protocol for historical articles on recent operations, pseudonyms are used for majors and below who are still on active duty, unless names have been publicly released for awards/decorations or DoD news release. Since October 2001, 160th SOAR Soldiers have flown into missions globally using highly-modified Black Hawk, Chinook, and Little Bird helicopters. I'm wanting to get into 160th SOAR Green Platoon and was wondering what's the best way to apply? During the Battle of Haditha Dam in 2003, a small element of Night Stalkers flying AH-6 and MH-6 Little Birds saved a Ranger company from being overrun by a large mechanized Iraqi force. in 160th you just gotta not quit during the 6 weeks of green platoon and don't fail out of airborne school and you'll get into SOAR. Special sign-up, re-enlistment and skill-based bonuses and other benefits are also available to them. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. We work closely with Army Aviation enterprise to address projected shortages, identify eligible recruiting populations, and retain talent., A U.S. Air Force airman from the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron jumps out of the back of a MH-47 Chinook helicopter at Wynnehaven Beach, Fla., April 9, 2013. MAWTS-1 provides standardized advanced tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine Aviation Training and Readiness and assists in developing and employing aviation weapons and tactics. It's not difficult but it's not easy either. In October 1981, the unit was officially designated the 160th Aviation Battalion. I can't remember exactly what the recruiter said about medics but it was along the lines of "medics applying to soar are going to be further screened and have a longer training pipeline (SOCM) to make sure that the right dudes are getting in." That lesson proved invaluable in the initial days of the war in Afghanistan when Night Stalkers went hunting Taliban and Al Qaeda targets. The tactics and techniques of the 160th are based primarily around the aircraft that the force is using on any given mission. Enlisted Combat Skills aka "Green Platoon", is led by the Special Operations Aviation Training Battalion and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). There will be zero feedback from anyone until the end, and that leaves you with a sense of doubt (at least it did for me). It was Operation Eagle Claw in 1980, the failed attempt to rescue 66 American hostages held in Tehran, that led to the creation of the Night Stalkers. Stavros Atlamazoglou is a defense journalist specializing in special operations, a Hellenic Army veteran (National Service with the 575th Marine Battalion & Army HQ), and a Johns Hopkins University graduate. Each battalion has a collection of light, medium, and heavy helicopters it uses to support special operations forces missions globally. With the information below, youll be able to dial-in your training for selection. The Night Stalkers killed hundreds of enemy soldiers and destroyed numerous tanks during the multi-day battle. 19. neoreeps 2 yr. ago. Interested in heading to flight school? As the Army Aviation population closes the gap on shortages, [Special Operations Aviation Command] is expected to have a larger recruiting population for warrant officers," Bymer said. Chris, congratulations for passing the 160th selection. Keep your adrenaline flowing as you take on fast-paced and high-intensity missions in remote regions around the world. Praesidus brings homage to the military watch tradition. B Company Training; CPT L. Kyle Faudree, 160th SOAR (A) Flight Medic Specialized Training: The Special Operations Aviation Medical Indoctrination Course,. Dunbar* interview, 26 January 2016; Special Operations Training Battalion (SOATB), Power Point Presentation, SOATB 101: SOATBThe FIRST Step in Night Stalking, 1 September 2015, copy in USASOC History Office Classified Files, Fort Bragg, NC, hereafter SOATB 101.. Upon completion of Green Platoon, enlisted soldiers undergo further training on their specialty before joining an operational battalion. Only those most qualified, willing, and able to perform the unique and dangerous 160th SOAR mission sets are admitted into the Regiment. Fast-Paced and high-intensity missions in remote regions around the aircraft that the is. Attending Green Platoon Reserve Officers must contact a 160th SOAR recruiter to discuss any transfer requirements before beginning the process. In a statement Night Stalker that the Force is using on any given mission manning,... And heavy helicopters it uses to support special operations Aviation are developed through a train as fight! 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