A Blackhawk helicopter lands as part of WKU ROTC’s training day on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Gabriel Milby)A Blackhawk helicopter takes off during a WKU ROTC training day on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Gabriel Milby)The first group comes back from their ride on the Blackhawk helicopter as part of ROTC’s training day Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Gabriel Milby)WKU ROTC students unboard the Black Hawk Helicopter as a new group boards during a training day on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Gabriel Milby)Mary Siam, a junior ROTC student, participates in a special training day where students in the program get to examine and ride in a Blackhawk helicopter on Thursday, April 16, 2026. “This is an exciting experience for me, I never thought I’d get to experience being on a bird in my army career unless I was in some form of aviation but here I am. I look forward to the rest of my time in the ROTC here at WKU, lead from the top,” Siam said. (Gabriel Milby)Elijah Martin, a sophomore ROTC student, participates in a special training day where students in the ROTC program get to examine and ride in a Blackhawk helicopter on Thursday, April 16, 2026. “My goal is to graduate and become a pilot for the Kentucky National Guard, so this has been the highlight of my time in ROTC and by far the coolest thing I have had the opportunity to do here at WKU.” (Gabriel Milby)Patches on a backpack during the Blackhawk training day on Thursday, April 16, 2026 (Gabriel Milby)1st Lt. Neville talks to WKU ROTC students during BlackHawk helicopter training on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Gabriel Milby)Sophomore Aiden Satterley a student in ROTC participates in a special training day where students in the ROTC program get to examine and ride in a black hawk helicopter on Thursday, April 16, 2026. “Awesome experience to be able to fly with there ROTC program here at WKU. Never thought we would get the opportunity to do something like this, but definitely glad we did” Satterley said. (Gabriel Milby)A black Hawk Helicopter takes off during a WKU ROTC training where students got to ride in the Helicopter on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Gabriel Milby)A black Hawk Helicopter takes off during a WKU ROTC training where students got to ride in the Helicopter on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Gabriel Milby)
