Members of the Army National Guard Warrior Training Center in Fort Benning, Ga., pose behind the No. 4 National Guard Dallara IndyCar.

National Guard Soldiers Make Pit Stop at IRE Shop
Nineteen National Guard soldiers recently stopped by the Indy Racing Experience headquarters prior to training mission at Camp Atterbury

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Nineteen of America’s finest National Guard soldiers made a quick pit stop on Gasoline Alley Thursday (April 16) to learn more about the Indy Racing Experience and its proud 2-seater partnership with the National Guard.  The men were treated to a tour of the Indy Racing Experience shop, took pictures with a No. 4 National Guard Dallara IndyCar, and jumped in for a quick spin around the neighborhood in the Jim Beam Operation Homefront street-legal 2-seat NASCAR.

The group of soldiers, stationed in Fort Benning, Ga., had just landed at the Indianapolis International Airport and was en route to Camp Atterbury near Columbus, Ind., to teach close to 300 soldiers techniques in Air Assault Operations.

That’s when National Guard First Sergeant Douglas Conaway informed them of the pit stop.  Conaway met Indy Racing Experience co-owner Scott Jasek at a National Guard convention in Florida last fall and received an open invitation to come tour the shop when he brought his men to town.

Conaway oversees the men at the Warrior Training Center in Fort Benning, where these “top-quality soldiers” are skilled in air assault operations for rotary wing helicopters.  They then travel the country to teach other soldiers the skills they have mastered.

“These men learn how to sling load equipment and supplies underneath the helicopter, which is crucial to the war fight over in Afghanistan and Iraq,” Conaway said.  “We also teach individuals how to repel out of the helicopter.”

Conaway notes that his unit will train 7,000 soldiers this year alone.  Some of his men teach a second course called Pathfinder, which Conaway describes as being “air traffic control for the Army.”  The Pathfinder program is more book work and practical exercise, but a few hundred men each year learn just how much space they need – and have – when exiting a helicopter in mid-air.

The two courses are both fairly new to the National Guard.

“Five years ago we didn’t have these courses, so for the National Guard, it’s huge,” said Conaway.  “Since then we’ve probably trained 10,000 soldiers to be air assault qualified.”

Sergeant E-5 Justin Smith not only values his role teaching fellow soldiers, but also appreciates spending time with National Guard affiliates outside of training, as was the case on Thursday.

“I think it’s really great to get that kind of return,” Smith said.  “It’s real thankful work already in what we do by training soldiers.  But on top of that, the regular job satisfaction you get… to come out here and see other people that are involved with the Guard in such a close working relationship, it’s really special for us.  You guys taking the time out of your day to give us something special, really rounds out the trip for us and makes it an awesome experience.”

The group of soldiers will spend up to three weeks training at Camp Atterbury before moving on to the next “real life” classroom.  Similar to an IndyCar Series schedule, the group stays on the road for most of the year.  Prior to their stint in Indiana, the soldiers were in Florida and Fort Bliss, Texas.  In a few weeks, it’s off to New Mexico, Oregon and Massachusetts. 

“Each place we go is an opportunity for a new adventure,” Smith said.

Hopefully their pit stop in Indianapolis will be one they remember for some time.

The Indy Racing Experience operates daily at the Walt Disney World Speedway and opens for both riding and driving experiences at 4 p.m. ET.  Reservations can be made online or by calling (888) 357-5002. For more information on the Indy Racing Experience, which also operates at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and at all North American IndyCar Series tracks, please contact us by phone or submit questions and comments HERE.