2 Guam National Guard soldiers start flight school

Two of the Guam Army National Guard’s newest Warrant Officers, who recently completed Warrant Officer Candidate School, will be the first two soldiers to attend flight school for the Guam Army National Guard.

Warrant Officer 1 Brian F. Enderes, from Yigo, and Warrant Officer 1 Sarah M. Uchida both completed Warrant Officer Candidate School at Ft. Rucker, Alabama, earlier this month.

The fledgling Guam Army National Guard Aviation continues to build its force and infrastructure in support of Detachment 2, Delta Company, 1-224th Medical Evacuation, according to GUARNG Aviation and Safety Officer LTC Bill Breeze.

The unit is slated to receive two Army LUH-72A (Lakota) helicopters.

Next year, other soldiers, both enlisted and officers, will also begin training in their aviation military occupation skill set to be fully prepared to receive the aircraft in 2015, Breeze added.

Upon receiving the two MedEvac aircraft, the unit will go through an extensive six- to nine-month certification process to be fully mission-capable in order to support the island and the nation’s needs.

Enderes is a graduate of John F. Kennedy High School and obtained his associate degree in Automotive Technology from Guam Community College. He joined the Guam Army National Guard as a member of the 721st Army Band in 2008 as a private.

Enderes started his Warrant Officer Basic Course and Flight School 21 at the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Ft. Rucker this week. He will be the first Aviation Warrant Officer to attend Flight School for the Guam Army National Guard. He is married to Jinky Enderes, and is the son of Manuel and Nerita Enderes from Yigo.

Uchida, from Agana Heights, will be starting her flight school next week. She is a graduate of Moana Loa High School in Honolulu, Hawaii, and attended Trinity Western University in British Columbia, Canada.

Uchida joined the Guam Army National Guard as a member of Forward Support Company, 29th Brigade Support Battalion in 2011 as a private.

Uchida will be the first female Aviation Warrant Officer to attend Flight School for the Guam Army National Guard. She is the daughter of Dan and Kathy Uchida, who reside in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Uchida is originally from Hawaii and besides her parents, she would like to thank the special people who have helped her to get where she is at and keep her motivated through her journey: from Hawaii are her parents, Dan and Kathy Uchida; the late Gary and Edna Uchida; the late Robert and Elsie Chang. Her Guam family includes Linda Yeomans; Edward Sr., Emmy, Edward Jr. and Edwin Babauta and Mark and Joaline Smith.