Fort Campbell, Kentucky – Pilots from the District of Columbia Army National Guard Aviation Command recently completed Helicopter Underwater Egress Training.

The training, known as “Dunker,” took place on April 23–24, 2025. It included flight crew members from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), also known as the “Nightstalkers.”

Pilots MAJ Robert Schapiro, 1LT Corbin Richardson, 2LT Marcus Russell, and CW2 Jennifer Smith participated in both classroom instruction and hands-on exercises.

Crews performed about 20 underwater escape drills. The final challenge was a simulated rescue in hurricane-like conditions involving thunder, lightning, storm surge, and strong winds.

The exercise ended with a rescue raft and hoist water rescue scenario, testing the pilots’ ability to respond under extreme pressure.

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