--Night Stalkers. Two weeks later two Chinooks and 76 crew members and maintenance personnel arrived by C-5. The crash killed a soldier, Sergeant First Class James R. Stright, 29, and injured eight others, three seriously. In October 1993 in Somalia, Night Stalkers became involved in the Battle of Mogadishu, which later became the subject of the book Black Hawk Down, and its film adaptation. 414 Am3ricanTrooper 9 mo. He would have been on that bird were it not for the last-minute change. Chris, Turbine 33 has just been shot down, he told Eicher, whod earned the nickname Iceman for his always cool demeanor. Brady ran over to where his platoon sergeant, Sgt. This was a desolate part of the Hindu Kush, and at night, you wouldnt really expect to see much, Brady told Coffee or Die Magazine. The odds of enemy fighters hearing the echo of the dual-rotor helicopter increased every second it remained in a hover. His military experience includes being Honor Graduate from the U.S. Army Infantry School at Ft. Benning, Georgia (Cycle C-6-1) and as a Scout Observer in a reconnaissance unit, Company F, 425th INF (RANGER/AIRBORNE), Long Range Surveillance Unit (LRSU). He was a graduate of several Army courses including Enlisted Combat Skills, Combatives Level I, MH-60 Maintainers Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE), MH-60 Non-Rated Crew Member Course . ), has been an AH-64D. One Night Stalker was killed in the battle. 2003 - night flight a challenge. Two Night Stalker Black Hawks, Super 6-1 (piloted by Cliff Wolcott), and Super 6-4 (piloted by Mike Durant), were shot down in the battle. In Afghanistan in 2005: Eight Night Stalkers (four from HHC and four from Bravo company of 3rd Battalion[22]) were killed along with eight Navy SEALs on a rescue mission for Marcus Luttrell, after their MH-47 Chinook helicopter was hit by an RPG (rocket propelled grenade). The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), also known as the 160th SOAR or Night Stalkers, are the critically important aviation support of America's special operations forces. [44], On the morning of September 18, 2021, "according to what appears to be a military incident report shared on Instagram and Reddit", a katana-wielding man attacked several SOAR soldiers at a California airport, forcing over twenty of them to "hunker down" in a hangar at Inyokern Airport, resulting in wounds to two soldiers that required stitches. I have a degree and job at a large gov consulting firm The Army looked to the 101st Aviation Group, the air arm of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), which had the most diverse operating experience of the service's helicopter units, and selected elements of the 158th Aviation Battalion, 101st Aviation Battalion, 229th Aviation Battalion, and the 159th Aviation Battalion. One soldier, CPT Clayton Carpenter of NY (posthumously promoted to MAJ),[37] was killed with another two injured. Brady said he pleaded with Reich to at least let him come with and act as an extra gun and set of eyes. [38][39] On 4 July 2014, during Operation Inherent Resolve, the Night Stalkers inserted Delta Force operators into Syria to rescue James Foley and other US hostages. A new Night Stalker pilot arrives at a unit as Basic Mission Qualified (BMQ). When I left in 2012, getting off post as a single E6 wasn't even a sure thing. Since the SEALs werent sure where exactly the compromised team was located, Kristensen believed inserting at a position of tactical advantage was the best option. Joseph Turnage, a UH-60 Black Hawk crew chief, with the 160th Special. These are the. Good, Brady recalled Reich saying. Some small portions of the book are redacted for security reasons. The 160th brought AH-6 helicopters the light helicopter gunship based on MH-6 "Little Bird" and defensive armed penetrators, the MH-60L modified attack helicopter that looks like a Black. They then used explosives to clear out a large enough area for Chinooks to land when they came back. The commander explained that the ground force commander had already rejected that plan and didnt want to wait any longer. One might easily mistake him for a veteran firefighter, a job he once held in Cincinnati, Ohio, years ago before entering the Army in 1985. . AH-6Ms strafed the two-vehicle convoy, killing the leader along with three other al-Shabaab terrorists, then carried out an overwatch while DEVGRU cleared the vehicles and recovered the body. Not wanting to leave their brothers, the SEAL team commander hatched a plan with the Night Stalkers to insert higher up on the ridgeline and fight their way down to the crash site so Turbine 34 could fly back to Jalalabad, pick up as many SEALs as he could, and fly back to reinforce the eight SEALs. Children of varying ages ran around the coffins, playing and yelling, not yet old enough to understand the sacrifices these warriors made. 160th SOAR Detachment of 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment (3/75)With footage from members of soar and Senior Crew Chief Dunkin. New theories about the Stealth Black Hawk emerge as the UH-60 turns 40. An estimated 25 al-Qaeda fighters were killed. It means you cant drift any direction without crashing.. The flight back was pure silence. [36], On 15 January 2014, a MH-60M Black Hawk of the 160th performed a hard landing at Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia. 160th SOAR (Abn) Application, Assessment and Selection Process. CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) - Two 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash last week on San Clemente Island, California. Receiving the transmission, Brady couldnt believe it. [28] On 24 April 2008, Company D, 3rd Battalion, 160th SOAR was inactivated at a ceremony conducted at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, as part of a regimental transformation plan. He has covered the 75th anniversary of D-Day in France, multinational military exercises in Germany, and civil unrest during the 2020 riots in Minneapolis. FORT CARSON, Colo. 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) operators prepare for final checks with CH-47 Chinook crew chiefs at Fort Carson Aug. 23-26, 2022. After the 1980 Operation Eagle Claw attempt to rescue American hostages held in Tehran, Iran, failed, President Jimmy Carter ordered former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James L. Holloway III to figure out how the U.S. military could best mount another attempt. If you want an Army pilot career, the 160th SOAR is the crme de la crme. The SEALs were successfully inserted onto the property while the crew was able to extract themselves, provide cover for the SEALs and then leave on the other helicopter. ago Hard and wet at the same time 98 BrokenBodyEngineer 12NeverGonnaGiveYouUp After 4 years in the guard in aviation, my gung-ho/ hooah levels have gone down dramatically, will need to get back in that motivated mindset some how. As the first batch of pilots completed training in the fall of 1980, a second attempt to rescue the hostages was planned for early 1981. . Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Soldiers who fail to pass the course the first time may retake it, but there is no guarantee that anyone assigned to Green Platoon will pass and continue on with the 160th. As demand for highly trained special operations aviation assets bloomed, the regiment activated three battalions, a separate detachment, and incorporated one Army National Guard unit, the 1st Battalion, 245th Aviation (OK ARNG). A similar slot was. When I entered in 2004, the Army simply did not have the housing to accommodate the influx of soldiers and were kicking people out of the barracks as soon as they made E4. Life in the 160th I have spoken to AD and 160th recruiters Background: Army NG Crew chief (15T) E4, been in about 4 years but still have very limited maintenance experience and just recently RL1 crew chief. As the Night Stalkers approached Bagram they could see what looked like everyone on base standing outside, showing their respect for the fallen. Smith said everyone on the Chinook was angry. 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 . Thanks to his selfless sacrifice, his classmates took the course more seriously. More significantly across the entire arc of the Global War on Terror, the 160th SOAR has inserted elite special operations teams from every service, including SEALs, Rangers, Special Forces. Just so it seems real to everyone else.. Ms. Snuffy, we regret to inform you that your son was selected as "the example" in his SERE class. [24][25], In July 2006, a pair of MH-47Es from 160th SOAR attempted to insert a combined strike element of DEVGRU, Rangers, and Afghan commandos in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, to attack a compound. The 160th was born out of tragedy. Finally, Burnett pulls back the curtain on his personal struggle re-integrating into civilian culture, a traumatic change that lead him to attempt suicide and finally gain redemption partially through writing Making a Night Stalker. Demerly is an experienced parachutist, holds advanced SCUBA certifications, has climbed the highest mountains on three continents and visited all seven continents and has flown several types of light aircraft. [20], On 1 April 2003, the 160th SOAR took part in the rescue mission of PFC Jessica Lynch who was taken prisoner during the Battle of Nasiriyah. Do I have to sign a 6 year? ", This date in ARSOA history: OPERATION MOUNT HOPE, U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command Facebook page, dated 11 June 2014, last accessed 9 June 2019, "Task Force DaggerOperation Enduring Freedom", "The Campaign PlanSpecial Operations Forces and Operation Enduring Freedom", "HONORING THE U.S. ARMY HEROES OF OPERATION RED WINGS", "Operation Enduring FreedomCaribbean, Central America (OEF-CCA)", "160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR)", "Special ops aviation company deactivated", "PRESS RELEASE: Four Special Operations Aviation Soldiers die in helicopter crash in Colorado", "Stealth chopper secrets may have been exposed", "PRESS RELEASE: Special Operations Aviation Soldier dies in helicopter training accident", "One killed in US 'Night Stalkers' hard landing", "2 Fort Campbell soldiers receive Distinguished Flying Cross", "Black Hawk helicopter that crashed off Yemen belonged to elite Special Operations air unit", "Pentagon identifies US service member killed in Afghanistan copter crash", "Special operations aviator killed in Iraq helicopter crash identified", "Special ops troops 'hunkered down' in California airport hangar after nighttime ninja attack", United States Army Center of Military History, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (United States), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=160th_Special_Operations_Aviation_Regiment_(Airborne)&oldid=1147084789, "Night Stalkers", "160th SOAR (A)", "Task Force Brown", "Night Stalkers don't quit! Eicher looked at Brady and said, Nah, they probably put down for maintenance.. From flying planes, to operating drones, to fixing Black Hawk helicopters, and more, you'll have an exciting career ahead of youno matter the role. The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), abbreviated as 160th SOAR (A), is a special operations force of the United States Army that provides helicopter aviation support for special operations forces. It just didnt look good.. As the pilots climbed the last 1,000 feet of elevation, the AC-130 crew providing overwatch on their destination radioed to say they had to leave their position due to a mechanical issue. The Chinooks took off toward the mountains once again, but as they climbed in elevation, severe weather rolled in. Making A Night Stalker takes you along on Burnetts career in the U.S. Army during the Global War on Terror. Their distinctive 101st "Screaming Eagle" patches remained on their uniforms. As the storm raged, the members of the task force haunted with thoughts of their brothers on the mountain tried to sleep. Copyright 2023 | MH Magazine WordPress Theme by MH Themes Formed in the aftermath of the failed 1980 Iranian hostage rescue, Task Force 160 was the result of the Army's quest to build an aviation unit specifically designed to support special operations. my first thought was 160th SOAR, since they fly the high risk missions that call for high risk training. Smith and the others in Turbine 34 watched helplessly as the Chinook full of their fellow aviators their friends crashed into the mountain and erupted in a ball of flames. I dont really care, Matt, he told Brady, just get your stuff and get off the airplane. He walked out of the operations center and found Eicher. The pilots descended to the point where the Chinooks front rotor was just a few feet away from the mountainside with tall trees all around the aircraft. The 160th had only lost helicopters during daylight missions at that point theyre called, Chesty Puller: The Corps Most Decorated Marine, US and Allies Conduct Drills in Face of North Korean Threat, How Israels Iron Dome Protects the Country, Dirty Boat Guys: An Expansive History of Navy SWCC, 2-Day BRCC Fundraiser Nets $55K for Screaming Eagles, Russias Pacific Fleet Put on High Alert for Snap Drills, Red Tails The Legendary Tuskegee Airmen of WWII, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. A helicopter from the 160th SOAR arrived and began receiving heavy fire from the enemy, with an AH-64 Apache helicopter from the 1st Battalion 101st Aviation Regiment escorting the helicopter, put their Apache directly between the U.S. troops, the helicopter and the enemy forces to draw the fire. An AC-130 Spectre joined the battle and kept the down crew and passengers safe until a British Immediate Response Team helicopter recovered them. The two Chinooks Turbine 33 and Turbine 34 were packed with 16 SEALs each, plus the Night Stalker pilots and crewman. They tell a well-paced, compelling story. When Turbine 33 was shot down, they received orders to fly back along with Turbine 34 and the Apache gunships until the next phase of the mission was developed. He walked back to the operations center to monitor the situation and provide support from Bagram. Making a Night Stalker is well worth adding to any collection of military aviation history. One American was wounded, no hostages were found, but a substantial number of terrorists were killed. Operation Restore HopeOperation Gothic SerpentGlobal War on TerrorismOperation Enduring FreedomIraq WarOperation Inherent ResolveAl-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen. On 26 March, the 160th SOAR took part in the Objective Beaver mission, a raid by DEVGRU on a complex known as al Qadisiyah Research Centre that was suspected to have stocks of chemical and biological weapons. A lot of guys really wanted to stay on the mission, recalled Chief Warrant Officer 3 Tim Graham, one of the pilots on Turbine 34. After a brief tenure with the infantry, he became a rotor-wing pilot then excelled his way into the vaunted 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) The Night Stalkers say no more! My husband is a solider in the 160th SOAR. i heard from someone, they can kill one person per class. The JSOC troops, along with their newly arrived reinforcements, went to work recovering those killed in action as well as sensitive equipment that could not fall into enemy hands. Fury, Dalton. The SEALs did their best to hide the rope and keep their presence on the ridgeline hidden from enemy fighters. I heard once you get in you're in a maintenance get for years then maybe you'll get a crew chief slot. As Brady climbed into Turbine 33 and started strapping in, Reich tapped his shoulder and asked what the plan was. He asked the AC-130 crew for one final report on the four potential landing zones the Night Stalkers had identified for the mission. The MH-47Es trained searchlights on the boat while operators from the Philippine Naval Special Operations Group opened fire, killing the terrorist leader and capturing four other terrorists with him. From my understanding its Green platoon> SERE> 160th. Chief Warrant Officer 5 George "Billy" Cook and Chief Warrant Officer 5 Karl H. Maier stand with Col. John R. Evans Jr., 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment during a retirement ceremony . Then the helos blades started hitting each other, and the aircraft rolled to the right before inverting as it descended to the mountainous terrain below. When the crew chief tried to pull the rope up, they found it was entangled below. [citation needed]) The unit was officially established on 16 October 1981, when it was designated as the 160th Aviation Battalion. Brady said he estimated the AC-130 would only be off station briefly and that the crew had reported no hostile activity on the LZ. Smith said he saw a line of armored vehicles full of troops. When the Little Birds were out of ammo, they would often keep making passes so that enemy . The 101st Airborne Division provided the elements that composed the organization. These are the crews who fly America's top special. Hoisting a man at that altitude on that kind of terrain at night is a dangerous operation. Were completely separate commands. I know they go on TDY deployments, does that mean short term gig in Afghanistan? [29] The 160th SOAR also took part in the 2008 Abu Kamal raid. Any help appreciated so I can decide if I want to take this leap. [18], On 21 June 2002 in the Philippines, Night Stalker MH-47Es were involved in the operation that killed Abu Sabaya, a senior leader in Abu Sayyef. If you pass you will continue into 160th, if you fail or quit you will be sent to 101st. [34] The operation involved flying covertly into Abbotabad, Pakistan in a pair of MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, specially modified for stealth and piloted by the 160th SOAR, to take a team of Navy SEALs directly to bin Laden's compound. This is my mission.. And, if you want to be a part of a generally top-notch team, then 160th SOAR AKA the "Night Stalkers" checks the box. Throughout that night of 5 December 2015, a group of Rangers engaged in a firefight with enemy troops near the Afghan-Pakistan border; after about 5 a.m. their commander called for an extraction after they learned of a larger enemy group approaching. First, as a member of a regular Army helicopter aviation unit, then, as he tries to earn a slot as a crew chief on the secretive MH-47G Chinook special operations helicopter in the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), the Nightstalkers. Just found out they are taking prior service 15T into 160th. He and some of his fellow Night Stalkers felt the SEALs plan was too risky. 160th SOAR pilots and awesome Crew Chiefs making this happen. He didnt think much of it at the time, but many years later he found out a new platoon leader came into their company within the 160th and was responsible for those Black Hawks. you dont want to go to sere. The Night Stalkers flew back to their newly forged landing zone the following night. In the tradition of the best journalists, Burnett lets the story speak for itself. At the Bagram operations center, Maj. Stephen Reich approached Brady urgently, asking why he didnt follow abort criteria and fly back with the SR team after the AC-130 had to leave the airspace. Kristensen agreed with Bradys evaluation, and after the SR team radioed that they would be lying down for the day in their hide site, Brady and Kristensen called it a night. The Hind was abandoned by the Libyans after 15 years of fighting, and was of great intelligence value to the U.S. Primary and secondary zones appear to be clear of potential threats.. Marketta was a decorated soldier who enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2011 as a 15th UH-60 "Black Hawk" Repairer. 160th SOAR (A) USASOC Flight Company; Special Operations Training Battalion; Technology Applications Program Officer ; Systems Integration Management Office ; Airframes; Contact USASOAC; 75th Ranger Regiment. The SEAL commander broke down and cried at the desperately needed positive news. The book hit Amazon.com on December 12, 2018 and has shot to the #1 selling title in Afghan War Military History on Amazon, trending in front of books by noted journalist Sebastian Junger and Medal of Honor winner Clinton Romesha. Contents of this blog/website may not be used without author's prior written permission. . SamOlson. This is one of only two commands open to Aviation Warrant Officers in the Army. [20], In seven hours, more than 70 sites were destroyed, effectively depriving the Iraqi military of any early warning of the coming invasion. The Night Stalkers spearheaded Operation Just Cause, the 1989 invasion of Panama, and they were also used in Operation Desert Storm in 1991. I saw this first hand as an H-60 Search & Rescue Swimmer Crew Chief (AW . CENTCOM mistakenly posted a video on the internet of a flight of four MH-60Ms of the 160th SOAR conducting a mid-air refueling over Iraq in October 2014, the video was hastily taken down. They bring the reader into the action. 160th SOAR(A) Special Operations Recruiter/ Station Deputy Commander . Joshua is married with two children. Russell went to work right away getting the crews together to prep the aircraft for the mission. In 1986, it was renamed the 160th Aviation Group (Airborne); and in May 1990, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Staff Sgt. The memorial service display in Bagram, Afghanistan. Northern Edge 21, the premier bi-annual joint exercise of the [], The famous Stealth Black Hawk helicopter revealed by the Osama Bin Laden raid is one of the hot topics of this blog. In December 2001, Night Stalker crews resupplied more than 150 Delta Force, British Special Boat Service, and CIA Special Activities Division operatives as they hunted for Osama bin Laden in the Tora Bora mountain complex. ", "Death waits in the dark! Two MH-60K Black Hawks carrying a parajumper medical team and two MH-60L DAPs of the 160th SOAR responded and engaged the Iraqis, which allowed the Delta operators to move their two casualties to an emergency HLZ. Its missions have included attack, assault, and reconnaissance, and these missions are usually conducted at night, at high speeds, low altitudes, and on short notice. This aircraft carried ODA 595, aka 'Horse Soldiers' from their staging base in Uzbekistan into Afghanistan to link up with Northern Alliance General Abdul . Rogie met Eicher on the flight line when he landed after returning from the mission. The 160th SOAR is the world's premier rotary-wing unit and specializes in transport, attack, and reconnaissance missions, with special-operations units being their main customers. The mission was to capture or kill Ahmad Shah, a Taliban commander. Kill Bin Laden. He is still serving in the Army. 8 Flight Instructor jobs available in Glenstone, TN on Indeed.com. The assault force (4 AH-6M Little Birds and 4 MH-60L Black Hawks) carried in DEVGRU operators to kill or capture the leader. A mission for those wanting to fly and conduct special operations missions from an MH-60 helicopter. CK Re: Overnight Pave Hawks (2) collide Ft Campbell. Officers are all volunteers; enlisted soldiers volunteer or are assigned by the U.S. Army Human Resources Command. In non-fiction, they tell a story never told before or, told from a different perspective. Do I have any chance of getting in the flight platoon directly? Note the winch fitted over the doorway. Staff Sgt. Aircrew of MH-47E 'Razor 03' during Operation Enduring Freedom, 2001. St Martin's, 2008. As the lead aircraft descended, it became clear the LZ was on a steep slope of the mountain, making descent difficult due to the front rotors approaching the mountainside faster than the rear of the aircraft. He retired from the U.S. Army as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 Blackhawk helicopter Master Aviator in the 160th SOAR after participating in combat operations Prime Chance, Just Cause, and Desert Storm, and also Gothic Serpent, in which he was briefly held prisoner in 1993 after a raid in Somalia . Dubbed Operation Honey Badger, it was called off when the hostages were released on the morning of President Ronald Reagan's inauguration. On 25 August 2017, a Black Hawk helicopter flown by the 160th SOAR crashed off the coast of Yemen while conducting hoist training when it lost power and crashed into the sea, six servicemen survived, one US service member remained missing. Then the realization hit: He was now in charge. Thats not possible, Brady replied, confused at how quickly the SEALs had become compromised. One of the SEALs even drew his pistol and attempted unsuccessfully to force the Chinook to land so they could try to save their friends. The task force commander denied the request and ordered Turbine 34 back to Jalalabad. Three war-weary escorts one of them a SEAL and the other two Night Stalkers Daniel Bell and Chris Eicher sat off to the sides, grimly staring off into space. The projectile flew through the open ramp of the Chinook and exploded inside. Tasked with inserting the SEAL special reconnaissance (SR) team deep into enemy territory in unforgiving terrain, Brady knew the SEALs Lt. Michael Murphy, Petty Officer 2nd Class Danny Dietz, Petty Officer 2nd Class Marcus Luttrell, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Axelson had a difficult mission ahead. Five of the eighteen men killed (not counting a nineteenth post-operation casualty) in the Battle of Mogadishu were members of the Night Stalkers team, who were lost along with the two Black Hawks. The sun was fading behind Afghanistans Hindu Kush mountains the evening of June 27, 2005, as a team of four US Navy SEALs walked up the ramp and into the back of US Army Capt. In this installment of Dear Jack, Marine veteran and amateur life coach Jack Mandaville helps a soldier stationed in Korea deal with suspicious behavior back home. MOS 15U MH-47 Special Operations Crew Chief is featured in this episode of Service in the 160th: My Life in Special Operations Aviation. David Pliego, UH-60 Blackhawk crew chief, 4th Bn., 160th SOAR, as he struggled to swim 30 meters in his flight gear and treaded water for what seemed like hours - only to be told his. I could see a lot of vehicles with troops armed to the damn teeth, Smith recalled. On 2 April, a Delta Force squadron operating in Iraq was ambushed by a half-dozen armed technicals from an anti-special forces Fedayeen. Elements of 3rd Battalion 160th SOAR have conducted episodic deployments in support of Operation Enduring FreedomCaribbean and Central America, begun in 2008. However, one Delta Force operator succumbed to his wounds. Posts: 41,531. When the ramp lowered, the Night Stalkers on the Chinooks stood tall and proud for their fallen brethren as task force members boarded and began solemnly moving each remains bag to the mortuary affairs building. [20], On the evening of 13 December 2003, Saddam Hussein was captured by U.S. forces in Operation Red Dawn, he was exfiltrated by a MH-6 Little Bird from the 160th SOAR and he was taken into custody at Baghdad International Airport.[21]. Arriving on site, the task force members fast-roped in. After leaving the 160th SOAR, he was assigned as the commander of the 2nd Aviation Detachment at West Point, flying the UH-72 Lakota. I really want the opportunity to deploy and 160th seems like the best chance. The Black Hawks and Chinooks continued to operate around Campbell Army Airfield at the north of post, and Saber Army Heliport at the south. The Night Stalkers again loaded their Chinooks with Rangers and SEALs and took off toward the mountains. Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and other Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) personnel loaded onto five Chinooks. After landing, Graham saw the same five Black Hawks that had peeled off earlier parked on the runway. This provisional unit was dubbed Task Force 158, since most of its pilots were Black Hawk aviators detached from the 158th. Im guessing morning PT in 160th is pretty nuts? 160th SOAR CW5s, of Black Hawk Down legacy, retire. The above Army aviator profile typifies an ideal candidate for the 160th SOAR. Thaddius S. Dawkins II, U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command March 28, 2014 FORT CAMPBELL, KY -- As the A Company,. Sgt. The plan was for the SEALs to fast-rope onto the ridgeline above the original LZ. We strive to achieve lore friendliness, without limiting ourselves. All of us were pretty broken up at that point, Rogie said. They finalized plans and sent the Night Stalkers on their way. [40], The Night Stalkers continue to be deployed to Afghanistan as part of NATO's Resolute Support Mission after Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan ended in late 2014 and was replaced with Operation Freedom's Sentinel. During the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, the Night Stalkers from 2nd Battalion supported two task forces established in early October 2001: Dagger and Sword. Finally, 150 US Marines would come in to establish blocking positions for the SEALs assault on Shahs compound. Answer (1 of 8): Thanks for the oppt'y to answer your question, Luke! All rights reserved. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jayme Pastoric. That meant if the SEALs got into trouble, extraction would potentially require the use of a hoist to pull the SEALs out, which was a time-consuming and dangerous option.