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| Army Parachute Team tests vertical wind tunnel for recruiting |
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| Army Parachute Team tests vertical wind tunnel for recruiting |
| [4/6/2006] |
Source: Army News Service |
By Staff Sgt. Marie Schult
Army News Service
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (April 5, 2006) — The U.S. Army Accessions Command and the U.S. Army Parachute Team, or Golden Knights, are looking to the skies as a means of drawing new recruits.
The Golden Knights recently tested a portable vertical wind tunnel, brought to the Knights’ home base at Fort Bragg, N.C., by Virtual Reality Skydive.
“I think it would be an excellent recruiting tool for the Army,” said Staff Sergeant Brian Krause, the Golden Knights’ Formation Freefall Team Leader. “Just because it gives people an idea of what we do every day, it gives them a little of what the Army is all about.”
While the Knights are known for innovation and style, this is one idea that they can’t claim as their own.
“I got the idea [of the portable tunnel] from watching the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics,” said Golden Knights Sergeant Major Mike Eitniear. During the 2006 Winter Olympics closing ceremonies, a freefly team wowed the crowds using a portable vertical wind tunnel.
“I bounced the idea off of our commander, and we both felt it had practical applications so we took the opportunity to present the concept to the U.S. Army Accession Command commander, Lt. General Van Antwerp. He loved the idea,” said Eitniear.
“I think the kids will love it,” said Sergeant 1st Class Dave Herwig, the Knights’ information management officer. “They will have the opportunity to do something that a lot of people never do — of course, we do it every day.”
The Golden Knights have, for the last 48 years, been a viable recruiting tool for the Army. However, as Krause pointed out, it’s hard to get the public’s attention during most events because of everything going on.
He believes the PVWT, in conjunction with Golden Knight freeflyers, will attract more public attention to the Army recruiting tents.
“This thing is always a huge attention getter. It’s loud at 146 decibels,” said Matthew Kornoely, manager of the PVWT for VR Skydive. He has taken the PVWT to hundreds of colleges and universities in the last two years.
“We will provide the set up and flying crew from the team, and the Mission Support Battalion will provide the primary movers and drivers,” said Eitniear. If the Army chooses to purchase it, the PVWT will be kept at the U.S. Army Recruiting Command at Fort Knox, Ky., until it is needed at specific venues.
While the Knights definitely give the PVWT a thumbs up, the Army will do further testing prior to purchasing, according to Capt. Wayne Wall, the Knights’ operations officer.
The PVWT will undergo a two-month testing phase sometime this summer, Wall said, adding that the Army will look at crowd reaction, safety, ease of use and recruitment viability during the testing phase.
“We need to see if we can get the best return on our investment,” said Wall.
Eitniear said the PVWT would be staffed by a crew of freeflyers who would do short demonstrations and members of the crowd, chosen randomly, would be given the opportunity to do a five-minute flight with a member of the team.
“The Army is always looking for new ways to get the Army’s message out there and were thinking that this is one of the way we can benefit,” said Wall.
Editor’s note: Staff Sgt. Marie Schult writes for the U.S. Army Parachute Team’s Public Affairs Office. |
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