Highlanders tour Maine Army National Guard Blackhawks

BANGOR — The Calvary Chapel Highlanders, Outpost #68, a Royal Ranger Scouting group, recently enjoyed a tour of the Maine Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopter facility. The Highlander boys, their commanders and chaperones were treated to a tour by Blackhawk pilots Greg Raychard and Mike Harrington of the briefing room, mission planning room, the maintenance hangar, locker rooms, gear storage areas and, of course, the Lakota and Blackhawk helicopters. Many young Highlanders in the Ranger program felt it was an experience they would never forget.

As one can imagine, the Blackhawks were the highlight of the evening with Raychard explaining much of the workings of his ship to the attentive boys. The young men also found nearly as exciting the opportunity given to them by Harrington to wear night vision goggles and “see” how Blackhawk pilots can navigate in their nighttime rescue missions.

The boys also watched a video presented by the Maine Army National Guard which highlighted Maine’s rich military heritage dated back to the Revolutionary War and showing how, since the Civil War, Maine has had the highest per capita personnel involved in all the military conflicts of any of the states in the Union.

The Calvary Chapel Highlanders is a Scouting program located in Dover-Foxcroft at the Calvary Chapel Maine Highlands. Outpost #68 is based upon the Royal Ranger program, offering Scouting and mentorship for K-12 boys.

Contributed photo
MAINE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD HELICOPTER TOUR — The Calvary Chapel Highlanders, Outpost #68, a Royal Ranger Scouting group, recently enjoyed a tour of the Maine Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopter facility in Bangor. The tour participants saw the facility, got up close to the Lakota and Blackhawk helicopters and tried on night vision goggles.