FORT BARFOOT, Va. –
Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team participated in retention flights Dec. 7, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia.
The flights, conducted aboard UH-60 Black Hawk Utility Helicopters operated by the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, provided a unique opportunity to boost retention, improve morale, and foster camaraderie.
During monthly drill periods, Soldiers often focus intensely on their specific job responsibilities. Retention flights offer junior Soldiers with limited military experience a chance to explore new perspectives and experiences that broaden their understanding of military service.
Spc. Jeff Madigan, an infantryman with the Pulaski-based Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, joined the Virginia National Guard three years ago to fulfill his desire to serve his country.
“It will be my first time on a helicopter,” Madigan said. “So I'm excited for a new opportunity, a new experience.”
Madigan emphasized that being part of exciting events alongside fellow Soldiers is one of the significant benefits of serving in the Guard.
“The nice thing about the Army is I've gotten to do a lot of things that I wouldn't have had the opportunity to do without joining,” Madigan said.
Spc. Ivana Kyande, a combat medic with the Lynchburg-based Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, has served in the Virginia National Guard for two years. While she initially joined to help pay for college, Kyande found a sense of discipline she didn’t realize she needed.
“Going through basic and AIT helped me to realize that I can do more than I thought I could do,” Kyande said. “There's a lot required of us and a lot of time hacks and different responsibilities we have to do that I didn't think I could do previously.”
Kyande is considering a future as a flight medic which drew her to participate in the retention flight.
“There's a lot of possibilities in my life. I'm just weighing it all out,” she said, adding that she’s also considering commissioning as an officer after completing her degree.
“It's not like really common that you get to do stuff like this. So I think it's a great opportunity,” Kyande said.
Sgt. Andrew Hayden, a combat medic noncommissioned officer with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, also supported the retention flights, recognizing their potential to inspire junior Soldiers to re-enlist.
“I think it's a good way to show them a lot of what the Army has to offer,” Hayden said.
Hayden highlighted the importance of breaking the monotony of monthly drill periods by introducing unique opportunities, such as retention flights.
“There's a lot that people don't know about and don't take advantage of,” Hayden discussed the benefits of considering re-enlistment. “On top of regular school benefits, there's a lot of credentialing assistance that can be very important in helping you find a civilian job.”
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Eric Dees, a pilot with the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, shared his journey from being an infantryman to becoming a pilot after a deployment to Iraq.
“When I was getting out, I was like, you know what, I'm not getting out, I want to go be a pilot. I ended up signing up, becoming a pilot, and here I am five years later, still in the Army,” Dees said. “Somehow I thought I was doing five; now I'm at 10. It really makes a difference.”
Dees said his favorite part of being a pilot is the opportunity to carry people to safety, but what keeps him in the Guard is the sense of community with his fellow soldiers.
“The thing that you're going to get from the Guard,” Dees said, “whatever you do, as long as you're wearing the uniform, you're going to have that sense of fulfillment. And it's not to be overlooked.”
Retention flights, such as those conducted at Fort Barfoot, underscore the Virginia National Guard's commitment to creating meaningful and engaging opportunities for its Soldiers, ultimately strengthening the force's cohesion and readiness.