North Carolina Army National Guard’s, 1-130th Attack

North Carolina Army National Guard’s, 1-130th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion conducts annual training, here April 13-24, 2015. This is the unit’s second gunnery of the year with a third planned in August. In this photo, training scenarios from the range tower are radioed to a hovering Apache: The enemy has been spotted in a building two kilometers from the Apache’s location and they are cleared to engage with rockets and their 30mm gun. The Apache climbs and rolls left, speeding towards its target. With a roar, rockets launch. The Apache follows up with four bursts (approx. 100 rounds) from its 30mm gun. The target is destroyed and the Apache returns to base. "Simulations are great, but nothing beats real world live-fire," said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Kurt Cunningham, a 1-130th veteran instructor pilot.