[warner25]

Yes, the public needs to understand this. That unit's [1] task is to provide transportation to senior government officials and security forces around the capital, including to and from that airport. If they didn't train to operate there, then their first time doing so would be with someone like the Secretary of Defense onboard or during some other mission that's critical to national security.

And the aviators assigned to that unit are typically more senior people who've already done a tour or two with more conventional units. Source: I'm a career Army officer and former Black Hawk pilot.

[1] https://jtfncr.mdw.army.mil/TAAB/

[alistairSH]

So, Hegseth indicated the Army helicopter was using night vision… would that be normal when flying in a dense urban airspace?

[defrost]

It'd be normal to have night vision to hand for either a training mission or for a secure VIP transport mission.

It's unclear whether they were being used at the time of the crash, but it'd be part of training.

The reporting to hand ATM makes statements such as:

  Earlier in the day, Mr. Hegseth said the crew had night vision goggles. However, it was unclear whether the crew was wearing the goggles at the time of the crash, Army officials said.

~ https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/us/politics/army-helicopt...