SIDNEY -- The Nebraska Army National Guard opened its doors to the public Saturday, September 16.

The open house included Delta Company 2-134th Airborne Infantry Battalion and the landing of a Chinook helicopter at the Kiwanis field across from the National Guard Armory. 

The open house included an opportunity for a close-up view of Army vehicles and meet personnel who operated them.

C.W.2 Jake Rexus was on hand to speak on his experience with the Army.

"I originally got in the Army National Guard in 2012. I was originally a truck driver out in Scottsbluff. Later on, in 2016, I went to aviation, Aviation School in Fort Rucker, Ala. After that, I progressed with my unit for about six months. I went to Afghanistan in 2019," he said.

Rexus has been doing stateside assignments since returning from Afghanistan.

Capt. Joseph Gillam, commander of Delta Company of the 2nd 134th Battalion Airborne, headquartered in Kearney, was also present for the Open House.

"We are headquartered in Kearney, Nebraska. We do have two platoons that are drilling out of the Sidney armory. We bring a lot out to Western Nebraska. We bring our new airborne capabilities that allows us to rapidly respond to domestic incidents, international missions that we are called upon. We are currently standing up multiple personnel here inside of the Sidney armory. We have leadership out here now. We're ready to be here and engage with the community. We're excited. That's why we had the open house," Capt. Gillam said.

The afternoon was also fun for children. Max and Kole Norgard, and Morgan Brauer, learned that the blades on a Shinook helicopter are 30 feet long, and when a jump is made, it takes 30 seconds to reach the ground.