12th CAB, 173rd Soldiers train sling loads/air assaults during Saber Junction 20

By Hunter GarciaAugust 8, 2020

A CH-47 Chinook from B Co "Big Windy," 1-214th General Support Aviation Battalion lifts a 173rd Airborne Brigade tactical vehicle during Saber Junction 20 at Grafenwöhr Training on Aug. 5. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Robert Fellingham)
1 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A CH-47 Chinook from B Co "Big Windy," 1-214th General Support Aviation Battalion lifts a 173rd Airborne Brigade tactical vehicle during Saber Junction 20 at Grafenwöhr Training on Aug. 5. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Robert Fellingham) (Photo Credit: Maj. Robert Fellingham) VIEW ORIGINAL
A crew chief with B Co "Big Windy," 1-214th General Support Aviation Battalion relays vital position information back to the CH-47 Chinook pilot from his side window as paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade hook their pallet of equipment to the underside of the helicopter. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Robert Fellingham)
2 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A crew chief with B Co "Big Windy," 1-214th General Support Aviation Battalion relays vital position information back to the CH-47 Chinook pilot from his side window as paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade hook their pallet of equipment to the underside of the helicopter. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Robert Fellingham) (Photo Credit: Maj. Robert Fellingham) VIEW ORIGINAL
A CH-47 Chinook from B Co "Big Windy," 1-214th General Support Aviation Battalion moves into position directly over a pallet of equipment while paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade prepare to hook it to the underside of the helicopter. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Robert Fellingham)
3 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A CH-47 Chinook from B Co "Big Windy," 1-214th General Support Aviation Battalion moves into position directly over a pallet of equipment while paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade prepare to hook it to the underside of the helicopter. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Robert Fellingham) (Photo Credit: Maj. Robert Fellingham) VIEW ORIGINAL
A CH-47 Chinook from B Co "Big Windy," 1-214th General Support Aviation Battalion hovers low while paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade  hook their pallet of equipment to the underside of the helicopter. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Robert Fellingham)
4 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A CH-47 Chinook from B Co "Big Windy," 1-214th General Support Aviation Battalion hovers low while paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade hook their pallet of equipment to the underside of the helicopter. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Robert Fellingham) (Photo Credit: Maj. Robert Fellingham) VIEW ORIGINAL
A crew chief with B Co "Big Windy," 1-214th General Support Aviation Battalion relays vital position information back to the CH-47 Chinook pilot from his side window as paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade prepare to hook their pallet of equipment to the underside of the helicopter. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Robert Fellingham)
5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A crew chief with B Co "Big Windy," 1-214th General Support Aviation Battalion relays vital position information back to the CH-47 Chinook pilot from his side window as paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade prepare to hook their pallet of equipment to the underside of the helicopter. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Robert Fellingham) (Photo Credit: Maj. Robert Fellingham) VIEW ORIGINAL
CH-47 Chinooks from B Co "Big Windy," 1-214th General Support Aviation Battalion hover low while paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade  hook their pallet of equipment to the underside of the helicopters. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Robert Fellingham)
6 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CH-47 Chinooks from B Co "Big Windy," 1-214th General Support Aviation Battalion hover low while paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade hook their pallet of equipment to the underside of the helicopters. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Robert Fellingham) (Photo Credit: Maj. Robert Fellingham) VIEW ORIGINAL
A CH-47 Chinook helicopter from B Co "Big Windy," 1-214th General Support Aviation Battalion transports a 173rd Airborne Brigade tactical vehicle during sling load training at Grafenwöhr Training Area on Aug. 5 as part of Saber Junction 20. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Robert Fellingham)
7 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A CH-47 Chinook helicopter from B Co "Big Windy," 1-214th General Support Aviation Battalion transports a 173rd Airborne Brigade tactical vehicle during sling load training at Grafenwöhr Training Area on Aug. 5 as part of Saber Junction 20. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Robert Fellingham) (Photo Credit: Maj. Robert Fellingham) VIEW ORIGINAL

HOHENFELS, Germany - U.S. Soldiers assigned to 1-214th General Support Aviation Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade and the 173rd Airborne Brigade rehearsed rapidly moving equipment by sling load via CH-47 Chinook during Saber Junction 20 at Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, Aug. 5, 2020.

Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Patterson, a 12th CAB Standardization Instructor, explained how to perform a sling load.

“We transport vehicles or equipment. We hook up sling loads,” he said. “Which are long straps that we hook up from the vehicle to the helicopter. Then from there, we lift cargo or… equipment off the ground and transport it where it needs to go.”

Patterson also talked about the importance of sling loading during tactical movements and also how sling loading aides troops on the battlefield.

“Being able to sling load equipment is very important because of its expedience,” he said. “ We can get it off the ground fast. A quick movement in the air and quick on the ground for the ground forces to use.”

Patterson then talked about the importance of participating in an exercise like this with the 173rd Airborne Brigade and how this exercise raises both brigades’ readiness.

“Working with the 173rd is a force multiplier for us. It provides both units the opportunity to work together” he said. “We know what to expect when those missions come up and what to expect from each other.”

Saber Junction 2020 is important to the readiness of U.S. and NATO forces in Europe and the training between 12th CAB and the 173rd Airborne Brigade exemplify why Saber Junction 2020 is important.

“Working with the 173rd ensures that when a real-world mission does come up,’ Patterson said. “We are ready to fight.”