Army aviation spouses get feet wet

FORT RUCKER, Ala. – Thirty-four military spouses got an opportunity to step into the boots of their soldiers, get their feet wet, and earn their own wings at an event that gave them a taste of Army Aviation training. The spouses got the chance to get down and dirty during Spouses' Aviation Day here Oct. 26 when they were able to try their hand at shooting, flying, water survival and teamwork. The teams of spouses took on four events that aviation soldiers experience in training, including flight simulation, firing range simulation, team-building, and helicopter overwater safety training. "It's just really cool to be able to see what our (soldiers) do, so when they come home we can relate to what they're saying a little bit because sometimes it's can be so foreign," said spouse, Hannah Rufli. One of the more popular events was the UH-72 Lakota and UH-60 Black Hawk flight simulators. At the end of the day, spouses graduated training and presented with certificates and their own set of wings by Maj. Gen. William K. Gayler, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker commanding general, and his wife, Michele. (Source: Fort Rucker 11/02/17) Central Mississippi Note: Fort Rucker is home to Army Aviation training. The UH-72 Lakota helicopter used in Army Aviation training is built by Airbus Helicopter Inc. in Columbus, Miss.