Modern Pioneers conduct night sling load training

By Spc. Jamie Vernon, 2nd BCT PAO, 1st Armd. Div., MND-BApril 7, 2009

BAGHDAD- Soldiers of Company A, 47th Forward Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad, conduct night time sling load training. Soldiers hook a storage container to the bottom of a Chinook durin...
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BAGHDAD- Soldiers of Company A, 47th Forward Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad, conduct night time sling load training. Soldiers hook a storage container to the bottom of a Chinook durin... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
BAGHDAD- Soldiers of Company A, 47th Forward Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad, attach cables to the underside of a hovering Chinook helicopter April 1.  The night time sling load traini...
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BAGHDAD- Soldiers of Company A, 47th Forward Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad, attach cables to the underside of a hovering Chinook helicopter April 1. The night time sling load traini... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

BAGHDAD - There is a common saying among U.S. Soldiers- 'we own the night'. To own the night takes hours and days of training. This is exactly what the Soldiers of Company A, 47th Forward Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, sought to accomplish when they conducted night-time sling load training at Camp Striker, Iraq, April 1.

For leaders, sling loading cargo has its advantages for many reasons, including getting transportation personnel off Iraqi roads, thereby lessening the dangers of encountering improvised explosive devices. Air transportation of cargo also allows the rapid movement of heavy equipment, and emergency supplies directly to the end-user.

"It gives the ground commander advantages. For instance, in Afghanistan you have terrain; you can't truck equipment up and down on. By slinging it you get around obstacles. Getting equipment to the soldiers for the fight, it's faster than a convoy," said Staff Sgt. Marcus Wilson, of Haines City, Fla., a heavy equipment transporter from Company A, 47th FSB.

Safety is always a concern in training, especially training at night. Wilson, who acted as a load inspector and non-commissioned officer in charge during the training, gathered the Soldiers for a safety briefing and went over the dangers and the precautionary measures necessary to ensure everyone's safety.

Static electricity, caused by the spinning rotor blades, posed a big risk. Soldiers must discharge the energy or else face a shock. He also warned Soldiers to be careful to avoid getting crushed between the load and the aircraft.

Wilson instructed Soldiers on the dangers of rotor wash; the powerful winds 20 to 60 feet around the Chinook caused by the rotor blades. The final part of the safety briefing was on the proper wearing of safety equipment. The Soldiers conducting the sling load operations mission were all required to wear ballistic eye protection, ear plugs, gloves, the advanced combat helmet and had to remove all jewelry.

"Everything we do during this whole operation has to come straight out of the book. The book tells you exactly how to rig the load, exactly how to inspect the load, it tells you everything," said Wilson.

The safety briefing was followed by rehearsals for the training, lead by Sgt. Christopher Degarmo, a heavy equipment transporter. During the rehearsals, Soldiers practiced the procedures for the sling loading training until they were proficient.

"When the aircraft is inbound, maintain three points of contact, except the safety, he's holding on to the belt or collar of the person in front of him," said Degarmo, of Greencastle, Pa., as he walked through the process for sling loading.

Troops from Company A have trained for sling load operations since May 2008, when they deployed to Forward Operating Base Hammer in the Mada'in Qada, southeast of Baghdad.

The Soldiers on this training mission successfully conducted training on rigging and hooking a storage container to a Chinook helicopter.

At the end of the training, three Soldiers from the 47th FSB qualified on sling load operation, enabling the 2nd BCT, 1st Armd. Div., to bring the fight against the enemy to any battlefield, at anytime, on any terrain.