Flying high at NMU with the Michigan National Guard

MARQUETTE — The Michigan Army National Guard flew two helicopters to Northern Michigan University for its Aviation Officer Orientation and Recruiting Event on Thursday.

The National Guard traveled from the Lower Peninsula to show recruits and the public what it likes to be a part of aviation in the military. The cadets that are currently part of NMU’s Wild Cat Battalion ROTC program are on their way into the world of aviation got to experience an orientation flight with Michigan’s National Guard.

Aviation can also be a great way to go further with a military career.

“I did 8 years in the infantry and got sick of that,” said Chief Warrant Officer Derek Martin. “So I’ve always wanted to fly aircraft and I could do this for another 10-15 years easily. It is a fun job you know once you get into it you can really progress in your career and accomplish a lot.”

Through this experience the cadet’s received firsthand training and got to see the operations behind the wheel in both Helicopters. The helicopters that were flown to NMU were a UH-60M Black Hawk and a CH-47F Chinook.