A Maine Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, piloted by two University of Southern Maine alumni, landed on the Gorham campus on Friday, Sept. 25 to fly USM Army ROTC cadets to Bangor for a field training exercise.
1st Lt. Donald “Don” Ouellette ’24 and Maj. John-Justin “JJ” Marcigliano ’11, both members of G Company, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, landed the aircraft on Paula Hodgdon Field just before 11 a.m.
For Ouellette, the flight was a return to where his own military career began — and a chance to give today’s cadets an experience he hopes will stick with them.
“It feels like I just left USM yesterday, and I’m back here today flying helicopters,” Ouellette said. “I hope they realize that right after college, you can do some of the coolest things you could ever possibly do. They just tell you here’s the keys, bring it back soon. It’s a crazy thing to experience.”
The Black Hawk stayed on the ground for a few hours, giving onlookers a rare close-up look at the cockpit and cabin before the 11 USM ROTC cadets climbed aboard for the flight to Bangor. Over the next several days, the cadets would put their soldiering and leadership skills to the test, taking turns leading their peers through challenging field exercises designed to simulate the demands they could face as Army officers. Field training exercises like this one happen a few times a year.
The unique opportunity was organized by Capt. Zachary Dalrymple, an assistant professor of military science at USM and member of the Maine Army National Guard.
“Our goal is to give our cadets as many opportunities as possible to train, develop as leaders, and experience the different paths available to them as future Army officers,” Dalrymple said. “We’re fortunate to have some incredible resources and training opportunities right here in Maine, and I’d like to continue strengthening our relationship with the Maine Army National Guard to give our cadets greater access to those experiences. It’s also great to bring USM ROTC alumni back to campus and give our current cadets a chance to connect with officers who were once in their shoes.”
The flight also comes as USM’s Army ROTC begins a new chapter. This fall, the program left the University of New Hampshire’s Wildcat Battalion and joined the University of Maine Black Bear Battalion — bringing USM into a statewide ROTC program that also serves Husson University, the University of New England, and Saint Joseph’s College.
UH-60 Black Hawk fly by.
Black Hawk landing on Paula Hodgdon Field on Gorham campus.
Zachary Dalrymple saluting John-Justin “JJ” Marcigliano ’11.
USM students getting first hand experience in the cabin of the Black Hawk.