Cornwall graduates air assault school, earns wings

Lt. Travis Cornwall, of Seymour, recently completed air assault school at Fort Benning, Ga. Cornwall serves with the Missouri National Guard's Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 138th Infantry Regiment in Kansas City. (Submitted Photo)

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

FORT BENNING, Ga. - Lt. Travis Cornwall, of Seymour, 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 slingload operations, rappelling techniques, aero-medical evacuation procedures and pathfinder operations.

"The toughest challenge for me while at school was making sure that all the Soldiers from my platoon and battalion were successful during this intense course," said Cornwall. "It has been great to see the extremely high level of support from the Missouri National Guard on preparing our new battalion for future combat operations. Schools like air assault are important for this preparation and the Missouri Guard has made sure that we are getting these opportunities."

For Cornwall, earning the wings of the eagle means that he now has the knowledge and experience to plan and execute air assault operations.

"It gives me a skill set that will further my ability to prepare my scout platoon for missions that we will be asked to perform in future combat zones," said Cornwall. "This is what we do. Air assault, ranger school, airborne school, pathfinder school-all give infantrymen the tools and confidence to perform the challenging missions asked of the greatest fighting force in the world."

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.

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 supports 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."

Cornwall has served in the National Guard for over four years. Currently he is an executive officer for a basic training company at Fort Benning, Ga.

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.




Lt. Travis Cornwall, of Seymour, completes the repelling portion of his air assault school at Fort Benning, Ga. Cornwall serves with the Missouri National Guard's Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 138th Infantry Regiment in Kansas City. (Submitted Photo)