New York Air National Guard's 274th Air Support Operations Squadron takes a group photo after a day of training at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base and Fort Drum, N.Y., Saturday, March 14. The Airmen who call airstrikes in support of American troops teamed up with New York Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter crews for joint training on Hancock Field that included CH-47 helicopter familiarization training, safety briefings and embark and debark training before they flew to Fort Drum, N.Y., where they trained on CH-47 landing procedures and sling loading. In Afghanistan, CH-47s play a key role in moving troops in the high mountain regions because their dual rotors generate the lift necessary to operate at high altitudes. After exiting the aircraft at Fort Drum the 274th trained on close air support (CAS) to enhance their ability to identify a target and neutralize a threat. The 274th mission is to advise U.S. Army commanders on how to best utilize U.S. and NATO assets for Close Air Support. (Top Row) Senior Airman Michael Maines, left, Senior Airman Paul Cange and Staff Sgt. Gerald Searfoss. (Middle Row) Senior Airman Michael Sorensen, left, and Staff Sgt. George Stratakos. (Bottom Row) Capt. Paul Spendley, left, Maj. Joshua Lang, Senior Airman Joel Ramirez, Capt. Jeffrey Hansen, Maj. Robert Mayers, Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Price, Staff Sgt. Weylin Schloss, Tech. Sgt. Brandon Gilbert, Lt. Col. Douglass Daeffler, Master Sgt. Patrick DiCrasto and Tech. Sgt. Jason Farrand.  (New York Air National Guard photos by Master Sgt. Eric Miller/released)
Master Sgt. Eric Miller
Taken on 14 March 2015
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