Last week we went on Fort Wainwright to check out some helicopters that one of our host families flies. The Chinooks were bigger than what I thought. Those are the helicopters that have two propellers and are used for cargo and transport mostly. We also saw the Blackhawk helicopters. Those are used for transport and also are decked out for the special forces. Finally we saw the Kiowa which is the one that Mr Merksamer flies. This helicopter has a ball on top, which is amazing. It is a computer laser which the helicopter can zero in on a target and another helicopter or a jet can drop the missile for and it syncs with the laser. It is really cool what it can do. This helicopter also has guns on both sides....it has hellfire missiles, rockets and a machine gun can be attached. They also ride without the doors on so they wear body armor as they fly. There is a small piece that protects them but it isn't much. We got to get in the helicopter and play around for awhile. We also got to try on his armor vest and helmet. My dad barely fit in the helicopter. He also told us that all the different pilots make fun of each others...like they make fun of the Chinook guys, and the BlackHawk pilots. They call the Chinook the Magic School Bus of the Sky. Mr Merksammer (I don't remember his rank) suggested that if I wanted to join the military that I should get an education first. He came in as an enlisted and just became an officer after helicopter school. He has been in the military for 10 years. In February he is going back to Iraq for the third time. Last time he was an explosive engineer and this time he will fly his helicopter. Please pray for the Merksammers this next year. His mission is dangerous and he will be in Iraq about year. His family will be here in Alaska where they recently moved.
Last week we went on Fort Wainwright to check out some helicopters that one of our host families flies. The Chinooks were bigger than what I thought. Those are the helicopters that have two propellers and are used for cargo and transport mostly. We also saw the Blackhawk helicopters. Those are used for transport and also are decked out for the special forces. Finally we saw the Kiowa which is the one that Mr Merksamer flies. This helicopter has a ball on top, which is amazing. It is a computer laser which the helicopter can zero in on a target and another helicopter or a jet can drop the missile for and it syncs with the laser. It is really cool what it can do. This helicopter also has guns on both sides....it has hellfire missiles, rockets and a machine gun can be attached. They also ride without the doors on so they wear body armor as they fly. There is a small piece that protects them but it isn't much. We got to get in the helicopter and play around for awhile. We also got to try on his armor vest and helmet. My dad barely fit in the helicopter. He also told us that all the different pilots make fun of each others...like they make fun of the Chinook guys, and the BlackHawk pilots. They call the Chinook the Magic School Bus of the Sky. Mr Merksammer (I don't remember his rank) suggested that if I wanted to join the military that I should get an education first. He came in as an enlisted and just became an officer after helicopter school. He has been in the military for 10 years. In February he is going back to Iraq for the third time. Last time he was an explosive engineer and this time he will fly his helicopter. Please pray for the Merksammers this next year. His mission is dangerous and he will be in Iraq about year. His family will be here in Alaska where they recently moved. 
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