Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Michigan Soldier invents Black Hawk door-gunnery simulator By Master Sgt. David Eichaker
                Michigan National Guard
 AUGUSTA, Mich. – Even as COVID-19 creates additional challenges for training and readiness, a Black Hawk door gunner from the Michigan National Guard figured out an innovative way to meet mission requirements and save taxpayer dollars. “The device I made is a Black Hawk crew chief door-gunnery simulator,” said Staff Sgt. Eric Wolschleger, 3rd Battalion, 238th General Support Aviation Regiment, Michigan Army National Guard. “The purpose of the device is to simulate the M240 machine gun on table 2 gunnery for Black Hawk helicopter crew chiefs.” The device was designed as a cost-effective way to manage training expenses. Instead of training in the helicopter, Soldiers can practice gunnery skills with the simulator on the ground. “The purpose of it is to save flight and maintenance time,” said Wolschleger. “When we fly, we would have to fly the helicopter to a suitable range site and land the helicopter, which has a lot of fuel costs and blade time, which leads to a lot of maintenance time and fatigue for the crew.” “By using this device, we can focus on the required training and get our personnel through quickly while performing the ground fire simulation,” said Wolschleger. Although a simulator, this device has the look and feel of what a door gunner in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter would experience. “I built it to have the height and adjustment of the seat from the lowest setting of the seat to the highest setting of the seat and also from the rear-most position of the seat to the forward of the seat,” said Wolschleger. “The actual side-to-side dimension of the mount is the exact dimension of the door gunner window of the helicopter.” Others hailed the simulator as nothing short of an exact emulation of the real thing. “It simulates the aircraft almost exactly to where the weapon is compared to how we would shoot it in an aircraft,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jeff Doebler, 3rd Battalion, 238th General Support Aviation Regiment, Michigan Army National Guard. “It’s a great apparatus and the fact we were able to come out here and train on it was amazing.” “It’s great for us to get out here and meet the training requirements, especially for all the new door gunners and pilots,” said Doebler. The look and feel and parts should be familiar to gunners as they get into their firing position. “The swiveling arm is the mount taken out of the helicopter,” said Wolschleger. “The mount that I built into it was to be able to mount the helicopter arm in there so that it is an exact replica of the helicopter as it would be mounted into the actual helicopter.” Although the simulator may look cumbersome, users found it comfortable to use. “It felt pretty good,” said Doebler. “With the amount of ease we were able to shoot and complete the familiarization firing requirement, especially in a time like this, was huge.” The Michigan aviation units have never used a simulator like this, and Wolschleger showed his pride in assisting his unit with readiness requirements. “This is the first time the Michigan Guard has used this,” said Wolschleger. “I am very happy to help out and happy to help the Michigan National Guard save the amount of manpower and money that will expedite the training our Soldiers can receive from this.” There is no doubt the coronavirus crisis affects training requirements and makes Soldiers start thinking outside the box how to complete the mission still. “When things affect your unit readiness and your training that need to get done, creativity and ingenuity is something that becomes invaluable,” said Doebler. “It’s amazing Staff Sgt. Wolschleger was able to come up with this idea and actually make it, put into use, and the result was a very usable piece of equipment that many Soldiers are able to use - that is a great testament to Staff Sgt. Wolschleger.”
 SHARE
 PRINT
  Black Hawk helicopter
 innovation
 Michigan National Guard
 COVID-19
 North Carolina Guard Welcomes New Zambian State Partnership State Partnership Program • 2 days ago
 Vermont Army Guard Soldiers Attend Brazilian Mountain School Overseas Operations • 2 days ago
 Idaho Air Guard Conducts Panther Shadow Exercise Guard News • 2 days ago
 Guard Leaders Stress NCOs Role in State Partnership Program State Partnership Program • 2 days ago
 Massachusetts Guard Helps Host Crisis Leadership Seminar Guard News • 3 days ago
 2024 (128)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil