My Atterbury Mission

So today was such a fun day and I was super excited all week long for today's activities. As you know Dustin is in the Air Force (active) and works at Camp Atterbury. Well, they are a range that helps to train all the troops (Air Force & Army planes). They train the pilots and crews to be able to work under the pressure of opposing forces such as our current problems: Iraq and Afghanistan. Shelbyville's crew called and asked for Atterbury to participate in a joint mission. We had people set up all over central Indiana and Blackhawks (2 ships) had to fly in under threat and fire, land to pick up and drop off people (pretend), and then fly off to the next location and do it all over again. They had 2 minutes to do this right and stay on time. They were graded on how well they were able to deal with the threat and firing upon them.

Well... Dustin and I weren't going to get to spend much time together this weekend unless I went to work with him. Now I've gone to work with him many of times before so I pretty much understand what's going on, etc. I also thought, hey during the breaks, I can prepare lesson plans for this next week--which I finished! Wahoo!

Anyway, so I help Dustin set up the threat emitter (radar) and this smoky SAM launcher that acts as if we're shooting these rocket type bombs up to them. Basically it is just a huge fire work that goes up 2500 feet in the air. I had a blast of a day! I was able to use both defense mechanisms to pretend to be a member of the Taliban or former Al-Quaida. I was having fun yelling ALALALLALALALA or however you spell what they yell when they are going to bomb someone and see 99 virgins waiting for them.

When I thought the excitement of it was at the peak, something even better happens. I was running the threat emitter and had my sights set on one of the Blackhawks. Dustin fires a SAM in the air and the next Blackhawk freaks out. Try to imagine your response to a deer running out into the middle of the road and you freak out knowing you don't want to crash into him. Now imagine that same scene in the AIR! It was hilarious and so much fun. They really were not prepared for that and it was great utilization and practice for them. Who knows what they'll see over there. These Blackhawk troops will be shipping out in September, so please pray that they get all the training and support they need before being sent over!

So here are some pictures to follow up the fun. I was so excited I totally forgot to take pictures all day... so these are of the last 2 ship that came. Enjoy!