In reality Englen, who just retired as the senior warrant adviser to the secretary of the Army and most decorated aviator in the Army, led the air component for the bin Laden raid, one of the most famous military operations in recent history. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. He was relieved details about his 160th SOARs air piece never really got out. $125.00 + $5.75 shipping. Its multiple layers of search and rescue and recovery, he added. In addition to training, developing and mentoring subordinates, USASOAC and the 160th SOAR(Abn) leadership are charged with the talent management and leader development for every Soldier. While the risk to the airframes was fairly low on the objective, it was extremely high during the other nearly four hours of flying. Hed never done that throughout his entire career of dangerous missions. Morale, esprit de corps, and the retention of special operations aviation Soldiers and NCOs is critical to our mission and the future of our force. As a commander, there are no others that I would want on an objective.. The last thing he said to me was, I will not be able to talk to you until Im back in-country. So, I just glued myself to the TV, and tried to read between the lines of anything being reported, if I could, Tina said. each have two MH-47 Chinook helicopter companies and one MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter company. Hed had months of planning and knew everything about that part of Pakistan and the area around bin Ladens compound. Promotion opportunities are regularly available, but are competitive and based on performance. My manner is that of the Special Operations Quiet Professional, secrecy is a way of life. The regiment headquarters is collocated with the 1st and 2nd battalions and the Special Operations Aviation Training Battalion at Fort Campbell, Ky.; 3rd Bn. has one AH-6 Little Bird helicopter company, one MH-6 Little Bird helicopter company and three companies of MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters; 2nd Bn. Two days after arriving home, Englen was at Jiffy Lube with Tina, getting an oil change. "I used to love the moon, Englen said. We already had an extremely close relationship, and trust and loyalty. You realize, by you being concerned and asking that question, you know youre not, theyd said. Sterile meant no identification, name tags, unit patches, family photos. "We had to keep it down to such a minimum, because we didnt want to leak it out in our own (special operations) community, Englen said. 160th SOAR CAREER BRIEFING EVENTS 5-6 April Fort Carson, Colorado Daily Briefing Times Officer/Warrant: 0930/1130/1430 Enlisted/NCO: 1030/1330/1530 Location: 4-4 Attack Helicopter Battalion Hangar Classroom The second clip is audio captured by a civilian in the area. Englen had studied the area around bin Ladens compound for months. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy, and under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country. Especially their support firing directly into trench lines in front of us that had enemy personnel in them. (But,) once we crashed the aircraft, within the first 30 seconds of the mission, then thats when we really woke up that entire valley, Englen said. Doug pulled my fat out of the fire more times than I can think of, McRaven said at a speech at Murray State College in February, a month before Englen retired. In the situation room, the vice president approached me with off-topic discussion. So, Ive got this teenager, going over-the-top that her hair wasnt going (right), huge Cinderella dress wasnt going, shoes were horrible, I look fat, 'everything sucks, and on and on, Tina sighed. Rigorous training continues upon assignment to the line units. The modern day 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) was officially activated in June 1990. Including Special Forces, Civil Affairs, Psychological operations, 160th SOAR, Explosive Ordnance Explosives, Warrant officers, 75th Ranger Regiment, and how to get started. Videos. The fact that her husband had called was. We literally just needed them to be on the objective, which they did phenomenally well. And, when it starts ricocheting inside, its even more horrific. The thing is, you get into this level of operation, its not the standard SAR. This process takes 2-3 weeks. Thats all Ill say. The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment(Abn) is the primary rotary-wing support to Department of Defense Special Operations Forces. When were on the ground, its just us, he said. (I highly doubt it). The 160th SOAR known as the "Night Stalkers" are the US Army's best aviators and the premiere rotary wing aviation unit in the military's Special Operations . Sometimes the president would ask details. Was just curious if they would hold a role more of like a battalion FSNCO or be an aerial observer. It may not display this or other websites correctly. "That means you're in charge of not just your aircraft, you're in charge of the flight: responsible for the flight planning, execution, and orchestration. Right after Englen dropped the body off with the Marines so they could fly it up to the Carl Vinson and had written his executive summary report, he received approval to run inside real quick to call his wife. But the news, There is a helicopter crash, theyd think the worst. U.S. Army 160th SOAR has Aviation Jobs, Military Jobs, and Army Jobs. While the risk was high for the ground forces during the 38 minutes they were actually on the ground at bin Ladens compound, the risk for the helicopters during the rest of almost four hours of flying was extreme. But when theyre having to deal with grabbing things and carrying things (like bin Ladens body bag, and everything seized from the compound), it changes everything.. For PSYOP, it's between $6,300 and $72,000, while civil affairs offers $4,400 to $46,000.. As he came in fast to pick up the ground force and air crew, he saw the downed helicopter. There are unlimited opportunities to lead within the 160th SOAR. Career stability and longevity as a Night Stalker means opportunity for advancement within the Regiment. And thats just enough., (A Pennsylvania National Guard Chinook, CH-47, slung-loaded the crashed MH-60 Black Hawk out of there, so nobody would be the wiser about that nighttime special operation though some famous daytime photos of resupplying the ground troops later went viral. His 160th SOAR air crews had been going after Osama bin Laden since the beginning. Meanwhile, the other Chinook stayed at the refueling site. The 160th SOAR actively seeks and assesses the best-qualified aviators, crew members and support personnel in the Army. Gallantly will I show the world and the elite forces I support that a Night Stalker is a specially selected and well trained soldier. In Green Platoon, you will find the standards of performance exacting and unwavering. Theres at least a dozen missions that I thought, There was no reason why we should have come out of that alive,' he confided. She knew I had heard from her dad, so I said, Go. But we all crossed that border. Crossing into Pakistan was emotional for everyone. Free shipping for many products! You are using an out of date browser. U.S. ARMY INSTALLATION MANAGEMENT COMMAND, "We Are the Army's Home - During those Iraq War years, Englen was involved in a number of missions supporting operations out of Mission Support Site Fernandez operations, which was near Baghdad. The raid is allegedly in the Jarabulus countryside, targeting IS leaders in a Turkish controlled part of Syria. Hed pinned his sisters corsage on, and was there to support her before driving back to his dorm. Each battalion also has a strategic composition of light, medium and heavy helicopters, all highly modified in designed to meet the units unique mission requirements. B160-13-F Diodes Incorporated Schottky Diodes & Rectifiers 60V 1A datasheet, inventory, & pricing. "It was not typical. Tina was raised in the church. During the longest helicopter assault in U.S. history, Englens was the first helicopter into Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks, on Oct. 19, 2001. The couples son Chris had come down from their local college to fill the dad role, since Englen couldnt be there. That number does not include all the other operations and training missions away from home. A quick phone call just to hear my voice, and tell them everyones OK, I knew that was all that was needed, Englen said. Keeping this house was always my job. Based on your MOS and duty position, you may have the opportunity to attend civilian/military schools and training that offer professional credentialing and certification opportunities.. The 160th SOAR(A) is comprised of a regiment headquarters, four battalions and a dedicated training company. They take pride in supporting the elite: working with special operations forces of all branches on classified missions. Among other missions, he infiltrated Top Tier members, along with British and Australian special operations in Al-Anbar, near the Syrian border, to deal with H-3 and H-2 Air Bases. That meant they were sitting on the ground vulnerable inside a sovereign nation, after invading its airspace and assaulting a compound. Pakistani security forces began demolishing the compound where Osama bin Laden was killed in a covert US raid last May in the garrison town of Abbottabad, police and witnesses said. They basically said, If you werent there, it wouldve been different. So it made me feel good, Englen shared. Shed literally just sat down when the news bulletin interrupted CSI.". I mean, we were at the maximum weight that the aircraft could hold," Englen explained. Ive got to find a ride home, Tina recalled. Real answer: You will be in a staff assisting with managing airspace. Thats how long it should take, Englen said. And it worked," he said. We're the ones that have to make sure we can get the ground force in, where they need to go. Especially if it appears to be for personal or financial gain. For the latest USASOC guidance and news, please click here. "When we're a top tier, you don't advertise what you do, you don't follow up with what you do, and that's why you don't see books and movies about TF Sword," he explained. No family members were allowed. Then again, the 160th SOAR, like the rest of the special operations community, is accustomed to having their award ceremonies behind closed doors, so information about sensitive missions doesnt get out. Tina closed her eyes and ears to the possibility and prayed a lot. But, you're also writing the lyrics for the song, playing the song, and you're orchestrating the song," Englen explained. I had gone out to see who was shooting the horns off, and I couldnt tell if my phone was ringing or not. CIA director Leon Panetta repeated that assertion in public, and it found its way into a critically acclaimed movie about the operation, Zero Dark Thirty, which depicts a detainee offering up the identity of bin Ladens courier, Abu Ahmad al- Kuwaiti, after being tortured at a CIA black site. As it turned out, Bin Laden was living in al Kuwaitis walled family compound, so tracking the courier was the key to finding the al-Qaida leader. This is the official U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command and 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Recruiting Team . Known as Night Stalkers, these Soldiers are recognized for their proficiency in nighttime operations. 160th SOAR aviators rarely speak about their missions or careers, because the majority is spent supporting Tier 1 operators on covert or clandestine operations. Special operations aircraft are highly modified with special mission equipment, advanced avionics, and communications. "The use of Black Hawks was to get them (the ground forces) quickly roped into the objective, Englen said. They put him back in the bag, and took it out to the Marine MV-22 Ospreys. 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 general purpose forces and special operations forces. The mission was to kill/capture him. The professionalism and capabilities of Army special operations aviation are developed through a train as you fight mentality. Promotion opportunities are regularly available, but are competitive and based on performance. But for special operations aviators of the 160th, thats an eternity. Home. What do they do with an Aviation Regiment? In October 1981, the unit was officially designated the 160th Aviation Battalion. But, he was searching and hunting for me, and three times came very close to actually launching a missile, Englen said. Ok, were loading the last guys, the crew chiefs communicated with Englen, who started pulling a little bit of pitch. Or if somebodys husband didnt come home. Mom, mom, mom! Tinas son called immediately from college. Englens Chinook headed back to Jalalabad, Afghanistan, while the remaining Black Hawk (Chalk-2) headed to the refuel site about 30 miles north of Abbottabad. RippedHalo; Oct 17, 2014; Replies 7 Views 6K. I know he has the same feelings, because all of a sudden, hell say, I think Im going to the gym, and Ill go, Oh, youve had too much of me, gotcha,' Tina laughed. I just knew he was going to come home. So, he was awarded that Silver Star with that non-descript citation for that operation, along with the rest of the air crew. They were on the ground for probably a minute and a half. 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