National Guard chief visits Arizona aviation training site

MARANA, Ariz. - Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau, visited the Western Army National Guard Aviation Training Site, or WAATS, Oct. 28, where he met with Soldiers and observed aviation maintenance and simulation training.

The visit came days after the site marked its 40th anniversary. WAATS provides aviation qualification and maintenance instruction for active-duty Army, National Guard and Army Reserve personnel, as well as international military partners.

During the visit, Nordhaus toured maintenance training areas and spoke with instructors, staff and students. Soldiers demonstrated inspection and repair procedures on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The Black Hawk supports missions including combat assault, medical evacuation and domestic emergency response. National Guard aviation units also use aircraft in search-and-rescue operations, wildfire response and other state missions.

WAATS leaders also demonstrated the UH-72 Virtual Maintenance Trainer, a computer-based system that allows students to practice diagnosing avionics and mechanical system issues in a digital environment.

The training combines classroom instruction, hands-on maintenance and simulation-based practice. Site leaders said the approach allows maintainers to develop critical skills while limiting aircraft use for some instructional tasks.

The visit highlighted the site's role in preparing aviation personnel for large-scale combat operations and domestic response missions. Training U.S. personnel alongside international military students also supports interoperability with partner forces. As the Army sharpens its focus on large-scale combat operations against peer and near-peer adversaries, the ability to rapidly qualify and integrate aviators and technicians across all three Army components and allied nations remains an operational advantage.

"It is always a pleasure to host senior leaders in the National Guard to highlight some of our initiatives and talented Soldiers responsible for training the next generation of Army Aviation professionals," said Col. Brett Snyder, WAATS commander.