What are your thoughts on the ARNG UH60 dropping candy on Halloween?

2014-11-03T12:57:49-05:00

I was going to post this question on Saturday, but my iPad and cell just don't do RP very well, but that is another subject. As an aviator and one who has witnessed a lot of crazy things that pilots and crew do, I wanted to get a RP population response to the actions of these types of decisions. So answer the poll and give your comments for others to enjoy.

I have my own opinion of what they did, but I will wait to see what others think about this little scare of cool on Halloween.

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Nov 3 at 2014 2:04 PM

2014-11-03T14:04:13-05:00

Sorry, couldn't resist...
http://www.duffelblog.com/2012/05/isaf-drops-candy-to-afghan-children-kills-51/

ISAF Drops Candy To Afghan Children, Collateral Damage Kills 51

The ISAF Candy drop to Afghan children that killed 51 is being cited as collateral damage in the Afghan war.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Nov 3 at 2014 2:05 PM

2014-11-03T14:05:43-05:00

While the intent of this incident was just worthy, the way the air crew executed the "mission" was off the mark. I am not a pilot, nor did I stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night, but I am sure that there are procedures in place to request flights/missions that are outside of the scheduled/planned operations. Prior coordination should have been conducted by the crew through the chain of command. I am also pretty sure that local authorities should have been brought into the loop on this also. There are so many things that could have gone "wrong" and could have had catastrophic results. Again, the intent was worthy, but the planning/coordination was sub-par/non-existent.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2014 5:02 PM

2014-11-03T17:02:37-05:00

I initially thought, big deal. Candy from the heavens! But then, I had to imagine sitting in the back yard and being pummeled by fun-size Skittles packs. And well, it was unauthorized. There's that.
Suspended. Yes. Poor judgment. I just hope that's it. Reinstate and let them fly on.

Response by PFC Zanie Young made Nov 3 at 2014 5:17 PM

2014-11-03T17:17:37-05:00

While that might have been cool, it couldn't have been authorized by the commander. Most likely, all involved would most certainly be subject to an Article 15 as well as loss of flight status or worse... If I remember correctly, officers usually fly helicopters with enlisted crew. I know that would be the case because that doesn't look good at all for the officer(s) in question because they are supposed to be leaders and NCOs should know better.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Nov 3 at 2014 5:26 PM

2014-11-03T17:26:47-05:00

I just can't imagine how they thought this wouldn't come back bite them on the @$$.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2014 7:15 PM

2014-11-03T19:15:44-05:00

I suppose if it were a public event and sanctioned it would have been fine. This sounds like they flew over a private house which is not ok. I suppose a loss of qual and maybe pay the fuel cost for the deviation would be in order, unless they were doing something reckless.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Nov 3 at 2014 9:10 PM

2014-11-03T21:10:57-05:00

I am not voting on discipline, am abstaining.

Will say this. Imagine how absolutely cool it would have been to have been those kids, when the chopper hovers and all of a sudden they realize that there is candy falling from the soldiers! That would be a memory for the ages. They will tell that story every year about the best Halloween ever.

I am sure that the crew is rethinking that decision.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2014 9:31 PM

2014-11-03T21:31:47-05:00

I am sick of this attention on the military to make us all look bad and this is not just a random event but a concerted attempt to make us look bad. Good job guys! I do not see how this is bad in terms in doing a solid.

Response by PO2 Steven Erickson made Nov 3 at 2014 11:22 PM

2014-11-03T23:22:08-05:00

Why would the pilots think that this could EVER be a good idea?

Something's not right in this unit. I don't have all the facts, but... AND - not being a pilot, I don't know all the flight rules - but how many rules were bent doing this over a neighborhood?

On the lighter side, reminds me of the WKRP Thanksgiving episode...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf3mgmEdfwg

WKRP "As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly" Thanksgiving

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2014 1:50 PM

2014-11-04T13:50:24-05:00

There was a story a few years ago about a National Guard KC-135 aircrew that would strip down and fly commando once they reached altitude. Sorry for the absence of a link; I’m at work and I have no idea what will show up if I Google “naked aircrews.” It was purely voluntary, the new crewmember was told. He declined, and turned them all in once they were back at home station.

Aircrews. Jeez.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2014 3:17 PM

2014-11-04T15:17:58-05:00

Great idea...giving candy away. Bad idea....using helo to deliver said candy.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Nov 4 at 2014 3:31 PM

2014-11-04T15:31:06-05:00

A guy got killed in Jersey when a tape measure fell off a top floor of a skyscraper construction site yesterday - hit smack in the head at 100+MPH, if something fell out of a helo with kids beneath... Nah don't want to thing about it.

Flying time is a precious comodity in the NG, not to be wasted so not sure how they even managed this.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Nov 4 at 2014 11:58 PM

2014-11-04T23:58:56-05:00

Didn't some dudes get medals for doing something like this once....?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gail_Halvorsen

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2014 12:02 AM

2014-11-05T00:02:54-05:00

The aircraft took off from the Papago Park Military Reservation to go to a training mission in Deer Valley training area, north of Papago, some (25-30 miles) but along the way the helicopter made the stop.

Army Brig. Gen. William Hall made this statement regarding the Blackhawk candy-drop mission:

"The incident was not sanctioned by the Arizona National Guard and will be investigated further to ensure it does not occur again. The Arizona National Guard does not authorize nor condone the use of military aircraft or equipment for personal use."

At this point I can be happy it wasn't scantily clad women dropping Halloween candy.

Response by SFC Vernon McNabb made Nov 5 at 2014 10:58 AM

2014-11-05T10:58:57-05:00

As we say in the Army, "Good Initiative, Bad judgment!".

Response by SPC David S. made Nov 5 at 2014 12:01 PM

2014-11-05T12:01:36-05:00

Now is not the time to be playing candy man. They will all more than likely be retired. The old "its better to beg for forgiveness" isn't what it use to be. Back when I was in we would stop over wag the rotors and bug out however with the current climate not a good idea just look at Utah NG and what happened there. Two many risks and no rewards on this mission in MHO.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2014 4:49 PM

2014-11-07T16:49:30-05:00

I'll bet they were trying to impress or show off for a friend, neighbor, or relative. That's what it sounds like to me. On top of that, I do sense a discipline issue that goes deeper than this one incident.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2015 11:05 AM

2015-08-10T11:05:56-04:00

Well, I know I am late to the party here, but it seems the winds have blown over on what we affectionately have started calling the "Candygate" Escapade. News reports, and these are current, the crew was disciplined with required retraining and that was it.

My thoughts are only in regards to safety-if a PL was suddenly warranted at the moment of the drop they d have had a lot of explaining to do. From what I was told by many of the people in that unit, dropping candy on kids was a regular occurence in theater. So why are we making it a big deal here in the States?

The tin foil hat nut jobs thought they were coming in for an invasion! They thought that Carc Green was Black!!! I got a kick out of that. Just my .02 sir, and great question.