Black Hawk helicopters airlifting KU cadets March 5 for training at Fort Riley


LAWRENCE — Army ROTC cadets from the University of Kansas Jayhawk Battalion will be catching a ride to Fort Riley on Black Hawk helicopters this week.  

Thursday, March 5, 110 KU Army ROTC cadets will be airlifted as part of a joint training exercise. Six UH-60A Black Hawk helicopters will land and take off from the Shenk Sports Complex, Iowa Street and Clinton Parkway.

The helicopters and aircrews are from the 3-1 Assault Helicopter Battalion at Fort Riley.

“This is our most important leadership development event of the year, and utilizing Army Aviation — specifically, UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters — will help further the cadets’ experience and understanding of Army capabilities,” said Lt. Col. Davis McElwain, KU Army ROTC Professor of Military Science. “For many cadets this is their first experience flying in a helicopter, and to get to fly from campus will be an added benefit of the training. We are grateful to KU, Fort Riley and the local community for supporting our training.” 

At approximately 11:30 a.m., the cadets will march from the Military Science Building, 1520 Summerfield Hall Drive, to the sports complex.

The Black Hawks will transport cadets in two groups to Fort Riley for exercises, with flights departing at approximately 1 and 3:30 p.m. 
Members of the media and public wishing to view the exercise are welcome to do so from two areas: adjacent to parking lot 218 on the south side of the sports complex, and parking lot 301 north of the complex. Both can be accessed via the intersection of Crestline Drive and Clinton Parkway. For their safety, visitors must stay off the field itself.

The KU Army ROTC program is home to cadets from not only KU, but also from Washburn University, the University of Saint Mary, MidAmerica Nazarene University, Baker University, Haskell Indian Nations University, Johnson County Community College, and Kansas City, Kansas Community College.

KU is one of just 50 universities in the nation offering an ROTC program that represents all branches of the military.

Mon, 03/02/2015

author

Joe Midgley

Media Contacts

Joe Midgley

KU Army ROTC

785-864-1113