Overview
The Chinook is the workhorse of all Army National Guard aviation airframes, suited for a variety of missions, including air assault, lift operations, medical evacuations, resupply operations, aircraft recovery, and paradrop/rappelling operations. The Chinook is a tandem-rotor helicopter capable of reaching speeds in excess of 170 knots, making it the fastest in the U.S. Army. It features a triple-hook cargo system, allowing it to carry heavy payloads, such as bulldozers, 155 mm M198 howitzers, or 40-foot cargo containers.
Job duties
- Pilot, navigate and communicate under combat and noncombat conditions
- Operate aircraft in all types of weather conditions during the day and night and under night-vision systems
- Perform all military aircraft operations, including:
- Security
- Gunnery
- Rescue
- Air assault
- Internal/external load
- Paradrop/rappelling
- Troop insertion, resupply operations, and equipment emplacements in support of combat maneuver operations
Training
Training details are confirmed with an Army National Guard recruiter.
Civilian career relevance
The technical and leadership experience developed in this role may support related civilian career pathways.
Recruiter verification required. North Dakota availability, qualifications, training length, incentives and service terms can change.
Source: Army National Guard career record · Updated 2025-07-02