F o r t C a m p b e l l COURIER

Transcription

1 F o r t C a m p b e l l COURIER

2 Thursday, May 11, Fort Campbell Courier Week of the Eagles Eagle 6: Event lauds 101st history Major General Andrew P. Poppas Commanding General, 101st Airborne Division and Fort Campbell On behalf of the Soldiers, Families, and Civilians at Fort Campbell, home of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), I am excited to invite each of you to celebrate this year s Week of the Eagles activities from May We have a very proud legacy dating back to 1942 when the unit stood up at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. There, the first commanding general, Maj. Gen. William C. Lee, stated the 101st has no history, but it has a rendezvous with destiny. Since then, the 101st has been called upon to participate in a number of conflicts and campaigns around the world: D-Day, Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, Vietnam, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Somalia, and Haiti through our current campaigns and mission requirements in Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the 101st 1st Airborne Division. Our theme to commemorate this anniversary is the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault): A Legacy of Heroism. We invite you to share in our celebration, which will commence with Week of the Eagles and culminate with the 75th anniversary on Aug. 16 and the subsequent sequent 101st Airborne Screaming Eagle Association annual reunion in Nashville, Tennessee. The division has planned a series of events honoring the legacy and sacrifices of so many before us. Soldiers who have led the way for 75 years and will continue to lead in protecting this nation. This year s Week of the Eagles activities include a Division Run, an eve- ning concert, an Air Assault Open House, the Legacy Golf Tournament, a Memorial Ceremony, and a Division Review. In addition, units at the brigade and battal- ion levels will compete in sporting and soldier- ing events to promote and foster esprit-de-corps, and ultimately identify the Commander s Cup winner. Also showcased during the week are both static and aerial demonstrations of aircraft used throughout the Division s history. An event not to be missed is the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team aerial demonstration. We could not do what we do without your great support. We look forward to We look forward to seeing everyone at the Week of the Eagles 2017 to celebrate our legacy and the proud heritage of this storied division: the only air assault unit in the world. seeing everyone at the Week of the Eagles 2017 to celebrate our legacy and the proud heritage of this storied division: the only air assault unit in the world. Activities are free and open to Soldiers, Families, retirees, veterans and members of the greater Fort Campbell community. Division and tenant units

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4 4 - Fort Campbell Courier Week of the Eagles Michele Vowell Fort Campbell Courier Thursday, May 11, 2017 Events to celebrate legacy of 101st Airborne Division In recognition of the 75th anniversary of the 101st Airborne Division, the 2017 Week of the Eagles will be celebrated May at Fort Campbell. The celebration will be open to Soldiers, Families, retirees, veterans and members of the Fort Campbell community. This year s theme is Screaming Eagles Celebrate 75 Years. Week of the Eagles is to promote esprit de corps, camaraderie, to bring units together and to show the history of the 101st to the public, said Capt. Monique Eddins, WOE action officer. It showcases what we do on Fort Campbell and highlights our rich tradition. Organizers are expecting thousands of guests to attend WOE events, as evident in past years. I look at the Week of the Eagles as a Family reunion or a homecoming for the 101st Airborne Division, said Maj. Eddie Porter, WOE action officer. [We re] bringing the old veterans back here who haven t been here in a long time, who served in various deployments, wars and campaigns. Just to bring them back home to fellowship with their fellow comrades, past, present and future. The week begins at 6 a.m. May 19 with a division run, led by the 101st and Fort Campbell commanding general, Maj. Gen. Andrew P. Poppas, and his command group. At 5 p.m. May 19, Department of Defense ID card holders are invited to an evening of Family fun, food and fellowship. A free concert will be held on the division parade field, hosted by the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade and Fort Campbell s Morale, Welfare and Recreation. The evening will start with a demonstration by the Champions of the Skies: The Golden Knights, the U.S. Army parachute team. Being able to bring the my s premier r Ar- parachute demonstration team here is really a coup for us, said Melissa Schaffner, Fort Campbell MWR marketing director. Shortly after the demonstration, the 101st Airborne Division Band will play, followed by performers Caroline Jones, Scotty Mc- Creery and Elle King. Jones, a singer, songwriter, multiinstrumentalist, producer and radio show host, was named one of Rolling Stone Country s 10 Artists to Watch for McCreery, the Season 10 American Idol winner, has sold more than 3 million albums and has won several country music awards. Headliner King received two Grammy nominations in 2016 for Ex s & Oh s. On May 20, the 101st Airborne Division Artillery, The Sabalauski Air Assault School, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st CAB and MWR present an Air Assault Open House and Community Fair at TSAAS. The community fair will include static displays, Family activities and a jump zone for the children. This event opens at 11 a.m. and will also include a demonstration by the Golden Knights at noon. The air assault demonstration will commence at 1 p.m. This event is open to Fort Campbell and our surrounding communities. We are a unique division. We are the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), so during the open house you will be able to see the airborne side and the air assault side all in one day, Porter said. We have the Golden Knights jump in and then we ll have 1st [Brigade Combat Team] conduct an air assault demo in the same time frame. The WOE also features LARRY NOLLER MVISC Soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division flag detail prepare to raise the American flag at the Division Headquarters July 30, 2015, during Fort Campbell s biennial Week of the Eagles celebration. The 2017 Week of the Eagles starts May 19 with the Division Run. several activities in which the 101st service members can showcase their warrior skills, as well as their athletic talents. It s esprit de corps. It s bragging rights, Porter said. It gives the units bragging rights for the next year or two until the next Week of the Eagles. We re the top brigade or battalion until we re dethroned at the next Week of the Eagles. Golfers will tee off in the Legacy Golf Tournament at 8 a.m. May 22 at Cole Park Golf Club. see LEGACY, Page 6

5 Thursday, May 11, 2017 Fort Campbell Courier Week of the Eagles - 5 Schedule of Events Welcome Center May a.m. until 4 p.m. at Dreyer Field House, 2604 Screaming Eagle Boulevard. Division Run May 19 6:30 a.m. at McAuliffe Hall Division Headquarters. Concert May 19 Concert and Golden Knights Demonstration at division parade field. Department of Defense ID card holders only. Community Fair/Air Assault Demonstration/Static Displays/Golden Knights Demonstration May a.m. at The Sabalauski Air Assault School. Legacy Golf Tournament May 22 8 a.m. at Cole Park Golf Course. Combatives Tournament May 22 9 a.m. until complete at Campbell Army Airfield Hangar 3. Dodgeball, Basketball, Softball and Flag Football May 22 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at various sports venues across post. Rendezvous BBQ May 22 4 p.m. until complete (ticketed event). Best Air Assault Soldier Competition May 23 3 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at The Sabalauski Air Assault School. Combatives Semi-Finals May 23 9 a.m. until complete at Campbell Army Airfield Hangar 3. Dodgeball, Basketball, Softball and Flag Football May 23 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at various sports venues across post. Marksmanship Competition May 23 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Ranges. Memorial Ceremony May 23 4 p.m. at Division Headquarters. Dodgeball, Basketball, Softball and Flag Football May a.m. at various sports venues across post. See map on pages 8 and 9. Commanders vs. Command Sergeants Major Softball Game May 24 1 p.m. at North Softball Complex. Combatives Finals May 24 1 p.m. until complete at Campbell Army Airfield Hangar 3. Honor Eagle Ceremony May 24 4 p.m. at McAuliffe Hall, Division Headquarters. Division Review and Commanders Cup/NCO of the Year Awards Ceremony May 25 9:30 a.m. at division parade field. Unit Open House May 25 noon, across post. For locations of events, see map on Pages 8-9.

6 6 - Fort Campbell Courier Week of the Eagles LEGACY Continued from Page 4 The Soldiers combatives tournament, where fighters represent their units on the mat, begins at 9 a.m. May 22 at Campbell Army Airfield Hangar 3. It s open to everybody, Eddins said. In the combatives tournament, males and females are competing together. Combatives semifinals begin at 9 a.m. May 23 and finals start at 1 p.m. May 24. The combatives finals, they really want people to come out and watch, Schaffner said. It s something to see. Also, starting May 22 will be sports team events including basketball, flag football, dodgeball and softball games at various fields across post. The tournament ends May 24. The Best Air Assault Soldier competition launches at 3 a.m. May 23 at TSAAS. Among the challenges Soldiers will face are a 12-mile road march and a Fast Rope Insertion/ Extraction System Course. That s going to be held by our very own air assault school commander and staff to ensure fairness, Eddins said. Sharp shooters will compete from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. May 24 in the marksmanship competition at the Fort Campbell ranges. Commanders and command sergeants major will round the bases during the Commanders vs. CSMs softball tournament at the North Sports Complex on May 24. The game starts at 1 p.m. The final day of WOE will include Poppas first official division I look at the Week of the Eagles as a Family reunion or a homecoming for the 101st Airborne Division. Maj. Eddie Porter, Week of the Eagles action officer review as the commanding general. During the ceremony, the Commander s Cup will be awarded to the brigade that has accumulated the most points during the week s competitive events. The Soldier and NCO of the Year will also be recognized. Organizers suggest the first stop for WOE visitors should be the Welcome Center, located in Dreyer Field House, 2604 Screaming Eagle Boulevard. Since the [Don F.] Pratt Museum is undergoing renovations at this time the Welcome Center is a great place to get your visit started, Schaffner said. The Welcome Center will have a static display, as well as tables from each of the brigades. Guests also can find maps highlighting key events and other WOE literature to enhance their visit. Souvenirs also are available at the gift shop. Porter encouraged the community to attend the 2017 Week of the Eagles events. Fort Campbell is not just for the Soldiers, it s for the greater Fort Campbell community, he said. We ve got a lot of surrounding counties that support Fort Campbell in some way and we support Thursday, May 11, 2017 FORT CAMPBELL COURIER ARCHIVE With a focus on the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, the Don F. Pratt Museum hosted an open house during the 2015 Day of the Eagles. Veterans and community leaders gathered at Dreyer Field House for a special preview of the much anticipated Wings of Liberty Military Museum. This year the focus will be on the Screaming Eagles 75th anniversary. them. It s a great working relationship both ways. Fort Campbell s first Week of the Eagles was held May 21-25, 1973, when Maj. Gen. J.H. Cushman commanded the 101st Airborne Division. Debuting one year after the Screaming Eagles were officially welcomed back from Vietnam, the week was touted as a celebration of the division s combat readiness. It was held in the same time period as Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day. WEEK OF THE EAGLES HISTORY The week featured both a Kentucky Day of the Eagles and Tennessee Day of the Eagles. Both then-kentucky Gov. Wendell Ford and then-tennessee Gov. Winfield Dunn visited post to mark the occasions. Separate reviews were held to honor both states that border Fort Campbell. In addition to displays and tours of the installation, there were a number of activities during the initial Week of the Eagles. Vulcan squad, 106 recoilless rifle, squads field firing and other military skills competitions were among the contests that pitted units and Soldiers against each other. The occasion also marked the dedication of Gardner Hills to the memory of 1st Lt. James A. Gardner, a platoon leader with 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, who was killed in Vietnam in He was later posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions. An Old-Timers Day was also part of the first Week of the Eagles. Many former 101st Soldiers came back to visit the Screaming Eagles at this time. Capping the event was a division review. Lieutenant General Melvin Zais, then-3rd U.S. Army commanding general, was one of the special guests in the reviewing stand as 15, st Soldiers marched by.

7 Thursday, May 11, 2017 Fort Campbell Courier Week of the Eagles - 7 Looking back JERRY WOLLER MVISC Lieutenant Colonel David Bowlus, the 101st Airborne Division chaplain, talks with retired Sgt. 1st Class Dennis Neal, a Vietnam veteran, at the 2015 Day of the Eagles event. This year s Week of the Eagles celebration will be open to Soldiers, Families, retirees, veterans and members of the community. JERRY WOLLER MVISC Early in the morning of July 30, 2015, the 101st Airborne Division held a division run to kick of the Day of the Eagles. The run was made up of Soldiers from every unit within the 101st Airborne Division. This year s Week of the Eagles begins May 19 with another division run. Ready To Get Your Career Ready To Get Your Career Off The Ground? ENROLL NOW FAA Approved Aviation Maintenance Programs You ve earned promotion points, put them to use! Receive college credits for your military experience with NORTH CENTRAL INSTITUTE S Military Credit Evaluation Service Repair, Maintain, Overhaul We Teach it all! 168 Jack Miller Blvd., Clarksville, TN Admissions@NCI.edu NCI is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education. Clarksville, TN I-24, Exit 4 Home of 1100 DUNLOP LANE CLARKSVILLE, TN

8 8 - Fort Campbell Courier Week of the Eagles Thursday, May 11, 2017 Fort Campbell Courier Week of the Eagles - 8 Left to right: Eddie Simmons, Bruno and Ft. Campbell Blvd., Between Gates 2&3 111 North Riverside Dr., Near McGregor Park Crosswalk Proudly Serving You Since 1972!

9 10 - Fort Campbell Courier Week of the Eagles Thursday, May 11, 2017 Elle King, Scotty McCreery to perform at WOE concert Mari-Alice Jasper Fort Campbell Courier Fort Campbell Soldiers and their Families are invited to rock out during the 2017 Week of the Eagles Concert at 5 p.m. May 19 at the division parade field. The Golden Knights will kick off the event with a demonstration. Shortly afterward, the 101st Airborne Division Rock Band will take the stage. Sgt. Katherine Bolcar, lead singer for the rock band, will sing the national anthem and the band will perform patriotic music and covers of songs. Bolcar said she is honored to be entrusted with performing The Star Spangled Banner. In addition to Bolcar, there are four other musicians in the rock band, they are Sgt. Gerard Cortese on drums, Spc. Justin Mann on bass guitar, Spc. Randolph Gonzalez on guitar, and Sgt. 1st Class John Falco on saxophone. The rock band covers a lot of different kinds of music. For our set we are going to be performing a variety of rock, pop and country, Bolcar said. We ll also throw a little patriotic music in there. We have a guitar player, Spc. Randolph Gonzalez, who likes to play a little Jimi Hendrix style. It s a throwback to when Hendrix was stationed at the 101st. This is pretty exciting for us. We love to get up on the stage and try to tie in what we do as musicians with the unit. Cortese said the band is thrilled to be a part of the celebration. It really is such an honor, he said. In regards to the lineage of the 101st Airborne Division and keeping up with that heritage and lineage, it really is such a big deal. It s really special, not just to me, but the whole band. Bolcar said she and her band mates hope Soldiers and their Families will have a good time during their performance by relaxing and spending quality time together. Part of the Army band mission is to inspire Soldiers, to encourage them and to let them know that we do have a lot of good things going on as well as the bad things, she said. It s very special to be able to give back to Soldiers in this way using a talent we ve been working on our whole lives to give back and to share. Caroline Jones will take the stage as the first guest musician to perform following the 101st Airborne Division Rock Band. Jones is a singersongwriter and multi-instrumentalist. I just want [the Soldiers and their Families] to have a great night listening to country music with no worries in the world just be all about the music. American Idol Season 10 winner Scotty McCreery will be performing at the Week of the Eagles concert May 19 at the division parade field. Caroline Jones will take the stage May 19 as the first guest musician to perform following the 101st Airborne Division Rock Band. Jones is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Following Jones, Amer- ican Idol Season 10 winner Scotty Mc- Creery takes over the stage. McCreery said he is excited for his upcoming performance. I just want them to let loose and escape from any stress they may be having, Mc- Creery said. I just want [the Soldiers and their Families] to have a great night lis- COURTESY PHOTOS Grammy Award and Teen Choice nominee Elle King will headline the Week of the Eagles concert May 19 at the division parade field. King said, It s an honor to perform at Fort Campbell for our troops to help commemorate the 75th anniversary of the 101st Airborne Division. tening to country music with no worries in the world just be all about the music. Grammy award and Teen Choice nominee Elle King will headline the evening. King is looking forward to headlining the Week of the Eagles concert. It is an honor to perform at Fort Campbell for our troops to help commemorate the 75th anniversary of the 101st Airborne Division, King said. McCreery said he is honored to perform for the Soldiers and Families of the 101st Airborne Division. It really takes a special person to have the courage and strength to serve in the military, and then the sacrifice the Family makes as well to go through that with them, he said. I have a ton of respect for the military. The least I can do is sing a few songs and hope to entertain them. I m glad that I can be there to witness this celebration and I hope to add a little bit of fun to it as well. see CONCERT, Page 11

10 Thursday, May 11, 2017 CONCERT Continued from Page 10 This concert is open to all Department of Defense ID card holders and their Families. Outside food and beverages, pets, grills and coolers are not permitted. Refreshments will be available at the venue. The first Week of the Eagles celebration was in 1973 during the command of Maj. Gen. J.H. Cushman and just one year after the 101st Abn. Div. was officially welcomed back from the Vietnam War. Since then, the event has grown to include a division run, golf tournament and community fair. The week continues to be a celebration and showcase for the division s combat readiness. Fort Campbell continues to celebrate the 101st Airborne Division because of the division s rich history, superior present and their mission to lead the way as they continue their rendezvous with destiny, said Catherine Walker, Fort Campbell Morale, Fort Campbell Courier Week of the Eagles - 11 The Week of the Eagles provides our Soldiers, Families and communities an opportunity to celebrate all that the 101st Airborne Division has accomplished in the past 75 years as well as recognize the contributions our Families and communities provide while supporting their Soldiers. Catherine Walker, Fort Campbell Morale, Welfare and Recreation special events coordinator Welfare and Recreation special events coordinator. Week of the Eagles events encourage Soldiers to spend time with their Families, while Screaming Eagle veterans and retirees are welcomed back to post. The Week of the Eagles provides our Soldiers, Families and communities an opportunity to celebrate all that the 101st Airborne Division has accomplished in the past 75 years as well as recognize the contributions our Families and communities provide while supporting their Soldiers, Walker said. The Week of the Eagles also allows units to embrace their retirees and veterans by welcoming them home. Gate access requires pass All unescorted, nondepartment of Defense ID card holding visitors must successfully pass a criminal background check before they are issued a visitor s pass. Escorted visitors with valid photo ID (state driver s license, passport) traveling in the same vehicle as a DOD ID card holder (CAC, dependent ID card, retiree ID card) are not required to obtain a pass. Unescorted visitors who are not traveling in the same vehicle as a DOD ID card holder (CAC, dependent ID card, retiree ID card) must obtain a visitor s pass from a Visitor Control Center for the duration of their visit. Contractors, sub-contractors, vendors, suppliers and service providers must obtain a one-day pass or may voluntarily choose to participate in the RAPIDGate program. Visitor Control Center s hours of operation are as follows: T.C. Freeman Gate Visitor Control Center at 5004A Screaming Eagle Blvd. 5 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, Saturday-Sunday, holidays and DONSAs. Gate 7 Visitor Control Center at 7199 Glider Road Open 24 hours.

11 12 - Fort Campbell Courier Week of the Eagles Thursday, May 11, 2017 KORY GIBBS FORT CAMPBELL COURIER Dreyer Field House will serve as the 2017 Week of the Eagles Welcome Center. Located at 2604 Screaming Eagle Blvd., the field house will have maps, displays and tables representing the 101st Airborne Division brigades on post. Dreyer Field House to serve as Welcome Center Kory Gibbs Fort Campbell Courier The 101st Airborne Division will celebrate the Week of the Eagles May This year s event will also recognize the Screaming Eagles 75th Anniversary. During the week, Soldiers, Families, retirees, veterans and members of surrounding communities are invited to take part in the festivities. The week of ebration will be- celgin with a grand opening of the Welcome Center. The [Welcome Center] is going to provide a location for visitors to see the history of Fort Campbell and all the great things that have happened here, said Capt. Luis Velazquez, 129th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 101st Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade, 101st Abn. Div. The Welcome Center will be housed at the Dreyer Field House, 2604 Screaming Eagle Blvd., and will be open from 9 a.m. un- til 4 p.m. during the celebration. The [Dreyer] Field House was chosen because it is a central location that everybody can have access to, Velazquez said. Also, the [Don F. Pratt] Museum is undergoing renovations and it moved to the field house temporarily, so having the Welcome Center over there as well will hopefully draw people to the museum. The Welcome Center will have WELCOME CENTER HOURS When: 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. May Where: Dreyer Field House, 2604 Screaming Eagle Blvd. displays and tables set up representing all of the brigades on post. The center will provide a good overview of what Fort Campbell is about and I think that it will be a good place to start their journey through post, he said. The Welcome Center will be the place for the visitors to get information on events during the week, Velazquez said. There will be detailed information about the week as well as a map that visitors can The center will provide a good overview of what Fort Campbell is about and I think that it will be a good place to start their journey through post... There will be detailed information about the week as well as a map that visitors can look at to find the events that are happening. Capt. Luis Velazquez, 101st Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade look at to find the events that are happening, he said. Additionally, Velazquez said the Welcome Center will be the epicenter for visitors if they have any questions. We want everyone to understand why we are celebrating and what the Week of the Eagles is all about, he said. Velazquez said the goal is to educate people on the historic events associated with the 101st Airborne Division.

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13 14 - Fort Campbell Courier Week of the Eagles Thursday, May 11, 2017 Army s Golden Knights to drop in at WOE Leejay Lockhart Fort Campbell Courier The U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, are coming to Fort Campbell for the 2017 Week of the Eagles. Members of the Black Demonstration Team will jump on May 19 for the Week of the Eagles Concert and on May 20 for the Air Assault Open House and Community Fair. The Week of the Eagles is an opportunity for the 101st Airborne Division to bring together current and former members of the division to honor the division s long legacy of service. This year s activities will mark the Screaming Eagles 75th anniversary. Compared to the 101st Abn. Div., the Golden Knights are relatively young, having served as ambassadors for the Army connecting it to the American public for more than 58 years. The Golden Knights have two demonstration teams, Black and Gold, named for the Army s colors, which allows the Golden Knights to showcase their capabilities in two locations during one weekend, said Sgt. 1st Class, Kevin Presgraves, team leader for the Black Demonstration Team. The Golden Knights also have competitive teams and a tandem team. The Golden Knights are the Army s only official demonstration team and along with the U.S. Air Force s Thunderbirds and the Navy s Blue Angels make up the Department of Defense s three aerial demonstration teams. For Presgraves, traveling to Fort Campbell for the Week of the Eagles is like a homecoming. Fort Campbell was my first duty station, Presgraves said. I showed up there in June 2004 and I went to the 101st Military Police Company right before it disbanded and then at that point I was shifted over to 4th Brigade... I haven t been there in the last six years since I tried out for the Golden Knights and made it then PCSed out here to [Fort] Bragg, [North Carolina]. So I m really looking forward to getting back there. He deployed twice while stationed at Fort Campbell, once to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. Presgraves love of skydiving also started at Fort Campbell on a tandem jump with the 101st Abn. Div. Parachute Demonstration Team. While at Fort Campbell, his leaders taught him to hold his ground and be a strong noncommissioned officer and he has taken those lessons and applied them during his tenure with the Golden Knights. Passing on what he learned at Fort Campbell to his Soldiers, honoring the division s legacy and representing the Army are core to Presgraves s military career and service with the Golden Knights. When I m in my flight suit sporting my combat patch, which is Old Abe, it gets a lot of attention and one way or another I m talking about Fort Campbell almost every weekend, Presgraves said. Whether it s an old vet who comes by and sees my patch, or somebody whose young and knows exactly what the 101st Airborne Division, Air Assault, is all about. Presgraves is one of 11 members on the Black Demonstration Team and he said he absolutely trusts each member of his team with his life. When freefalling from an altitude of 12,500 feet down to 3,000 feet at speeds of 120 miles per hour when in a flat neutral position or up to 135 mph in a dive with smoke spewing from canisters attached to their feet requires that kind of absolute trust. During his time at Fort Campbell he joined and eventually became the team leader for the 101st Abn. Div. Parachute Demonstration Team and he brought that experience to his tryouts for COURTESY PHOTO Sergeant 1st Class Kevin Presgraves, team leader for the Golden Knights Black Demonstration Team, parachutes with the Army flag in February. The Golden Knights have existed for 58 years and are one of three Department of Defense aerial demonstration teams. the Golden Knights. To even qualify to compete takes 100 freefall jumps. He had 1,000 jumps when he showed up to compete for a spot. However, past accomplishments were not the most important qualification the cadre were looking for in Soldiers who wanted to be part of the organization. I was a team leader and I had everything they were looking for, but the Golden Knights could care less about my credentials or my background or my skill level if I did not have the potential to be a good teammate, Presgraves said. If you do not have the ability to work as a team then that is not the high quality caliber Soldier we want to show case to the American public. see GOLDEN, Page 15

14 Thursday, May 11, 2017 GOLDEN Continued from Page 14 Becoming a member of the team is extremely competitive and many potential candidates have learned to skydive with their own money. Presgraves said this is because only certain military occupational specialties have the opportunity to attend the military freefall school and if a Soldier who has a different job in the military wants to represent the Army as part of the Golden Knights they must learn to skydive on their own time. Trying out for the Golden Knights is an arduous process. Candidates jump five to eight times a day. The assessment starts around Labor Day and it has a sixto-10 week floating completion date, so nobody trying out for a slot ever knows when it will end. The long days start well before sunrise and the cadre assign the candidates impossible tasks each day. Many people decide it is not for them and quit. For the ones who choose to stay, they persist to the end by becoming part of a team, Presgraves said. On the day he finally became a Golden Knight, the day started at 2:45 a.m. with yelling and intensive physical training for a few hours. Then they ate breakfast and went to the drop zone, where Presgraves hoped for a few jumps. He wanted that because it would mean the cadre would leave the candidates alone, but to his dismay the smoke session continued at the drop zone. Despite being in great shape he did not know how much longer he could go on. Then he noticed something. A Golden Knight plane came flying over and about 100 yards away a black box came parachuting out of the plane. The cadre yelled out for Presgraves and the rest of his team to secure the box. So we sprint out there like wild men and we bring back this ridiculously heavy pelican box. The box itself weighs 30 pounds and come to find out it had two 45 pound weights in there... and at this point I m reaching my breaking point and you pull open the bags and you unfold it and you realize it s your jacket and has your name embroidered on it, and at that point you realize that all that started at 2:45 a.m. was jacket day. He said every jacket day is different so nobody knows when it s coming. Graduation day is three days later when they make their first jump as a Golden Knight. The jump is for the other Golden Knights, who because of their parachuting experience are probably the most difficult crowd to jump in front of, because they know exactly what is supposed to happen. Shortly after they land the commander comes in with the Excalibur sword and knights them as they recite their charge. When I have gained the respect, admiration and gratitude of the American public and my teammates then I have fulfilled my mission as a Golden Knight. While the Golden Knights as an organization has officers who command the unit and fly planes, as well as administrative support staff, all of the Soldiers who parachute are enlisted members of the Army. For the most part they are noncommissioned officers, with some lower enlisted, but once they reach the rank of master sergeant, they must transition back into their previous jobs. This is often a great obstacle to promotion, because when a MP like Presgraves has spent years on the Golden Knights selection boards may decide another Soldier is more qualified for the promotion. It s one of the things that you kind of make peace with yourself that when you join the Golden Knights that maybe you won t get promoted, Presgraves said. The mission speaks volumes for itself and if I retire as a sergeant first class I ve had an amazing career. I had an amazing six, seven years at Fort Campbell with my two deployments and all that time and it s been an even better eight years, since I started being an ambassador for the Army and I absolutely love it. Being part of the demonstration team is mentally and physically challenging. The Golden Knights have a grueling performance schedule that keeps them on the road up to 250 days a year, and it requires personal dedication to maintain the fitness it takes to perform multiple jumps per day. The Golden Knights stay in great shape and we still take our PT test like normal, Presgraves said. Fort Campbell Courier Week of the Eagles - 15 The unique dynamics of the organization makes our PT program a lot different than a normal unit would be. The mental challenge comes from being part of a high risk sport. Presgraves said many Americans have not even been on a plane, much less taken off in a plane, but not landed in it. For Presgraves he has done it about 3,900 times and some of the Golden Knights have made 20,000 jumps. An ironic thing about Presgraves is he is afraid of heights and he does not even like being on his roof. He said his hand usually trembles as he approaches the exit before a jump, but it is also exciting for him, even after all of those jumps it s still exhilarating. Presgraves said the rule of thumb is 80 percent of skydivers are afraid of heights, but from miles above the surface of the Earth heights look different. We re jumping nonstop and always honing our skills, Presgraves said It doesn t matter if you have a couple hundred or a couple thousand jumps...you are only as good as your last jump and you are only going to get better if you continue to train. 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15 16 - Fort Campbell Courier Week of the Eagles Thursday, May 11, 2017 Veteran Owned & Operated 927 Dover Rd, Clarksville, TN Phone: (931)