The Cobra helicopter landed, looking as sharp as a shark, on the practice field behind Ridgeland High School.
Members of the Celebrate Freedom Foundation and U.S. Army recruiters landed, took off, landed and took off again in the AH-1F Cobra on a windy, sunny Friday.
The event was a reward for students at Ridgeland High for working so closely with the U.S. Army. Many Ridgeland graduates join the Army or work with recruiters on projects.
"For 10 years we've put a lot of Ridgeland High School students in the military," said Ridgeland teacher/coach Brian Patterson, who works with U.S. Army recruiters on the school campus. "Our relationship with the Army is strong. Our reward is this."
The Cobra used to be central to the U.S. Army's attack helicopter fleet and was heavily used in the Vietnam War. It played a role in the 1990 Gulf War. Though the Army has moved to the Apache, the Cobra is still used by other nations.
Celebrate Freedom Foundation President and Chief Operating Officer Jack Lovelady, a former U.S. Army aviator who retired after 38 years, continues to work with the military to train students.
Their focus is on the science, technology, engineering and math curriculum - STEM - that is crucial to so many jobs and careers now.
"The Freedom Foundation works closely with schools and the Army," said Lovelady, just after a Cobra swooped skyward. "We are in 3,000 high schools nationally. This is an Army Cobra helicopter. It represents $10 million of technology. With the help of the Army, we can bring it to schools to reinforce the STEM. Everyone needs a sustainable STEM workforce."
Members of the Celebrate Freedom Foundation and U.S. Army recruiters landed this AH-1F Cobra at Ridgeland High School last week.According to Lovelady, the Celebrate Freedom Foundation and the U.S. Army work together to get students excited about STEM through events like the helicopter landing.
"Our goal and mission is to reinforce the STEM subject and the careers offered through STEM," said Lovelady.
"Congress voted to provide us with incredible assets. We are losing our entire manufacturing base because we are not educating enough STEM students. So, Congress voted to support our SOAR [School Student Opportunities And Rewards] program."
Email Katie Ward at kward@timesfreepress.com.