Corner Canyon High student Ty Davis was one of about 50 students excused from class to watch as the National Guard landed a helicopter on the school soccer field.

It was part of the Meet the Pro speaker series coordinated by Canyons School District’s work-based learning with the goal to allow students to meet and ask questions of industry professionals to deepen their understanding of careers.

“I was in AP world history, but got excused to come out,” he said. “It was cool to just watch and talk with the National Guard.”

Students were allowed up into the cabin of the aircraft.

“I got a cool picture of the cockpit, and I talked with three of the four National Guard. I asked the Warrant Officer his path, since he’s different from the regular officers. I asked the crew chief how he does things. I asked the recruiter some questions about potential ways to go the route of becoming an aviator,” said Davis, who is considering a military pathway to his long-range goal of flying commercially.

The Corner Canyon sophomore plans to start ground school online soon.

“Once I’m done with that, I’ll go take the written test,” he said. “This summer, I plan to start private lessons for my flight license.”

National Guard Major Daniel Hills told a group of students his path.

“I got my economics degree first and worked for Zions Corporations; being with the National Guard can be a full-time job or a part-time job,” he said. “After I got my degree, I enlisted and learned all the basics and intricacies of taking care of aircraft, like how to repair Apache helicopters. After that, I submitted an officer candidate selection application and was selected. I went to OCS in Fort Meade in Maryland. Then, I was commissioned as a second lieutenant. One year after that, I started in Alabama for flight school for 19 months. You start on a Lakota helicopter. That’s your initial primary aircraft you’re going to learn how to train on. After that, you go to an advanced aircraft. I was trained on Apaches.”

Hills still had more school, including instrument course and survival school, and as a pilot in command, he chose to earn his MBA while stationed along the U.S.-Mexico border.

“The National Guard helped pay for that too,” he said. “To learn to fly helicopters on your own, you’re close to $100,000 out of pocket. It’s a big bill, but the army will pay for that, and you’ll be trained with a commercial helicopter instrument license and earn a salary while you’re training.”

His love of aircraft started young. He grew up playing with a remote-controlled aircraft next to an air force base. 

“I wanted to serve, but I also wanted to fly helicopters, so this is a great opportunity,” he said. “I hope these students get a desire and a love for aviation, and maybe we’ll see some of them flying for us in the future.”

Sophomore Taelyn Blundell is one of those who has a love of aviation.

“Flying runs in my family,” she said. “My dad has his pilot’s license, and my great-grandpa was a World War B12 bomber. We have a book where he told us all about his experience in the army and his helicopters. He was bombed and was the only survivor in his crew. He was captured by the Germans for a little bit, until he was able to get out. He was found six months later on the border of Germany.”

His service is partially why she’s interested in a career flying a military helicopter.

“I like the fact you’re able to help our country,” Blundell said. “It means a lot, knowing people who were in the service. It makes me a lot more motivated.”