N.M. National Guard Helicopter crew visits Rio Rancho school

RIO RANCHO, N.M. – A New Mexico Army National Guard helicopter crew visited Joe Harris Elementary School here this morning.

Capt. Christopher Otero, Warrant Officer 1 Justin Malouff and Staff Sgt. Michael Olson flew a HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter down from the Army Aviation Support Facility in Santa Fe and landed on the playing field, much to the delight of the students and teachers already on scene.

Otero is the AASF commander.

Once the rotors stopped turning and the helicopter was completely shut down, the aviators invited the group for a closer look. The HH-60M is specifically designed for medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) by air, which Otero explained as he described the helicopter and aircrew duties. “We’re basically an air ambulance,” Otero said.

Principal Trent Heffner said that students and teachers would visit the helicopter in rotating groups, which would also include family members. “We invited our school community to come out as well,” Heffner said. By the end of the three-hour visit, it was estimated that the helicopter crew had spoken to approximately 500 people. The event was scheduled as part of a Career/Military Appreciation Day at the school.

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The NMARNG completed a similar visit last month at Sandia Vista Elementary School in Rio Rancho, where they spoke to approximately 400 people.