Educators from Warren and Hunterdon counties got the chance to fly in a Black Hawk helicopter thanks to the New Jersey Army National Guard.
Educators from Warren County Technical School and North Hunterdon High School flew in a Black Hawk helicopter as part of the New Jersey Army National Guard's Educate the Educators program.
The program had been dormant for six years before the 24 educators got the chance to fly in a Black Hawk helicopter on Feb. 18.
The group of administrators, guidance counselors and teachers visited the Joint Training and Training Development Center at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst on the trip, which was organized by the New Jersey Army Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion.
"I thought today was great, it got us excited on what the Guard has to offer," said Rich Bergacs, principal of North Hunterdon High School.
Live fire training held at Joint Base
The educators walked through the various training lanes available at the Guard facility and tried out the simulators that the military uses to keep their skills sharp.
The 'Educate the Educators' program stopped flying in 2009 when the New Jersey Guard's 1-150th Assault Helicopter Battalion was deployed to Iraq according to Maj. Andrew Lazarchick, Recruiting and Retention Battalion commander. When the unit came back, budget concerns keep the program in hiatus.
"We are glad to bring back this opportunity to show educators about the Guard's dual mission of serving state and nation," said Lazarchick, who plans to offer one flight a month.