WEST TRENTON, NJ  - The residents arrived at 10:30, were taken on a tour of the facility where they had the chance to meet with Guardsmen and see the Facility’s aircraft including the OH-58 Kiowa, UH-1 Huey, and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters.  After the tour, the residents had lunch with troops.

Photo caption: Chief Warrant Officer Michael McManus (left), UH-1 and AH-64 Pilot, discusses the operation of the UH-60 Blackhawk with a resident (right) from Veterans Haven.On Aug 24, residents of Veterans Haven visited the Army Aviation Support Facility #1, New Jersey Army National Guard, at Trenton-Mercer Airport.

“It is a good opportunity for the Guard to get in touch with people who had served their country,“ stated Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michael McManus, UH-1 and AH-64 Pilot.  “The visit also enables the veterans to understand our state and Federal missions.”

Background on Army Aviation Support Facility #1, New Jersey Army National Guard: The Army Aviation Support Facility #1 is located at Trenton-Mercer Airport and is home to Detachment 1, 1159th Medical Company and the 1-150th Aviation Battalion.  New Jersey Army National Guard aviation assets, in addition to their normal combat training activity, state emergency operations missions, and support of Drug Interdiction and Homeland Security operations also have been tasked to perform other “non-traditional” missions in recent months.  Guard helicopters and crews assisted the FBI in their bio-terrorism investigation by transporting anthrax samples to the Army’s Medical Research and Materiel Command Analysis facility at Ft Detrick, Maryland. 

Background on Veterans Haven: The Veterans Haven Transitional Housing program for homeless veterans is located in Winslow Township.  It is the fifth largest in the United States, with a success rate of 82 percent.  The program is divided into three phases: treatment, self-reclamation; and community reintegration.  Each phase lasts three to six months and is tailored to individual treatment needs and vocational interests.

Eligible veterans are referred from a VA medical center after receiving a medical evaluation.  To be admitted into the program, the veteran must agree to a long-term program focusing on psychological, social, and vocational rehabilitation.  The program is drug and alcohol free, and has a staff comprised of professionals in the fields of mental health, vocational rehabilitation and nursing, all sensitive to the multiple needs presented by the homeless veteran.
.