Southside JROTC visits with black hawk helicopter crew
Published 9:51 am Wednesday, March 19, 2025
- Southside High School Air Force JROTC department sponsored a visit from a UH 60 Blackhawk from B Company of the 1-131st Assault Helicopter Battalion of Alabama Army National Guard. On hand for the visit were, from left, Col. Tillman-Facility Commander/Instructor Pilot; Maj. Ward, Pilot; Chief Warrant Officer 5 Pote-Instructor Pilot/Safety Officer; Col. Brook Rollins, Senior Aerospace Science Instructor at Southside High School; JROTC Cadets Ariana Thomas, Cornelia Smiley, Jamiya Brady, Sophia Alvarez, Crystian Robinson and Ty-Ara Harris; Senior Master Sgt. Medina, Aerospace Science Instructor at Southside HIgh School; Staff Sgt. Greene, Alabama National Guard Recruiter; Staff Sgt. Paul, Mobile Event Team NCO, who provided the Rock Wall and Gladiator Pit Events; Sgt. Wallace, Crew Chief; and Sgt. Fillingen, Administrative Non-Commissioned Officer and Standardization Instructor. | Brent Maze
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The Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps at Southside High School got an up-close look at a black hawk helicopter on Thursday.
The B Company of the 1-131st Assault Helicopter Battalion of Alabama Army National Guard brought the military chopper to Dallas County for a visit with the JROTC classes. The company, which is based in Mobile, landed the Black Hawk UH60 just outside Panther Stadium.
The guard also brought a rock wall and other activities for the students to perform.
Staff Sgt. Greene, who was in charge of the black hawk crew, said this is one of their favorite parts of the job.
“What we are doing here today is to expose the cadets to what they can do in the military,” Greene said. “It’s for both educational purposes and recruiting. This is one of my favorite aspects of the job as we get to interact with the community.”
Cadet Capt. Crystian Robinson, a junior at Southside, said he is considering a career in the military. This was his first experience to see a black hawk in person.
“This is really cool to get to see a black hawk in person and not just on the TV,” Robinson said. “It was great getting to talk with the crew and learn from them. This was a great opportunity for me to get a chance to see what I can do in the military.”
Greene said they are willing to do community engagement events, such as this event at Southside High School.
“The community is very important to us, and we want them to know that we are here to protect and serve them,” Greene said.
