Lear graduates air assault school, earns wings

Spc. Christopher Lear, of Joplin, completes the nine-event obstacle course during his air assault school at Fort Benning, Ga. Lear was one of nine infantrymen with the Missouri National Guard's 1st Battalion, 138th Infantry Regiment to recently graduate the physically and mentally demanding school. (Submitted Photo)

By Jennifer Archdekin
Ngmo.pao@US.ARMY.MIL

FORT BENNING, Ga. - Spc. Christopher Lear, of Joplin, was one of nine Soldiers to recently graduate air assault school from the Missouri Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 138th Infantry Regiment.

The grueling 10 and a half days of training at Fort Benning, Ga. tested Soldiers both physically and mentally. Air assault school qualifies Soldiers to conduct airborne helicopter operations, such as sling load operations, rappelling techniques, aero-medical evacuation procedures and pathfinder operations.

"The toughest challenge for me while at air assault school wasn't so much one single event, but the overall physical and mental stress and exhaustion from how demanding the course was," said Lear. "You get in a state of mind to do everything perfect or else you go home."

Soldiers are not considered "air assault students" until after successful completion of Zero Day, the first day of the course, which requires students to complete an obstacle course, two-mile run and an inspection of equipment prior to continuing training. The obstacle course is designed to assess a student's upper body strength, agility, endurance, confidence and ability to perform at heights without fear or distress.

Upon completion of the school, Soldiers were given a final test in order to graduate, a 12-mile road march. Troops wore full combat gear, a 45-pound rucksack and had to complete the challenge in three hours or less.

"I feel that by earning the wings I have also earned the respect of my peers," said Lear. "Anyone that has been in the Army for a day knows that the course is tough and when they see the wings it tells them that I've done what many people fail to complete. Air assault makes me a better infantryman because in today's war, helicopters play a big role in combat and support operation. Being knowledgeable in assault operations via helicopter, I can train my troops and have that experience when overseas."

Lt. Col. Kevin Fujimoto, commander of the 1-138th, also understands the significance of cultivating strong leadership within the battalion.

"Each additional class of air assault graduates ultimately contributes to the battalion's ability to integrate aviation assets into all of our operations, substituting air transportation for our lack of speed and mobility," said Fujimoto. "It gives the battalion the ability to mass combat power over rough terrain, relentlessly hunting down and killing our nation's enemies where they otherwise would have sought sanctuary."

"Air assault, pathfinders, ranger school and airborne graduates add a combat multiplier unparalleled in most organizations that support our ability to "close with and destroy" the enemy," said Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Kennedy, of the 1-138th. "The volume of seats available to the infantry for "hooah schools" additionally provides a tool for recruiting and retaining our war fighters in Missouri."

Lear has been in the National Guard over two years and serves with Company D, 1st Battalion, 138th Infantry Regiment in Monett. He works full time for the Missouri Military Funeral Honors Program and is a full-time student at Missouri Southern State University, in Joplin, pursuing a degree in history education.

If interested in career opportunities with the infantry please contact the human resources office at 816-922-5030.

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.

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For more information about this release, please contact Jennifer Archdekin at 816-262-2893 or e-mail at jarchdekin@gmail.com.