FORT STEWART, Ga. - On June 21, the Soldiers of the Supply Support Activity of 226th Quartermaster Company, 87th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, Third Infantry Division, conducted their first of three sling load training operation at Donovan Field.
The training was conducted to enhance knowledge of sling load operations and gain training hours. Second Lieutenant Jesse Monico was the event Officer in Charge and SFC Roderick Robinson was the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge. Monico and Robinson are both certified in the Sling Load Inspector Certification Course and both verify the loads before they can be lifted.
They brought 50 soldiers with them to Donovan field in order to enhance training value for more soldiers.
"Soldiers needed real-time training to realize that sergeant's time training can be fun and informative," 2nd Lt. Monico said.
Second Lieutenant Monico tries to set up sling load training for his soldiers as often as possible to keep them ready and alert for live missions.
During this mission, they lifted an A-22 cargo bag weighing 600 pounds, a water buffalo that weighed 2,800 lbs, and a HMMWV weighing 5,600 pounds, all with a UH-60 Blackhawk. These Soldiers do not always get to practice live sling load operations, so they were very excited to work with a helicopter.
"Having helicopters on stations really enhanced the training value," Pfc. Montarius Smith said, a Soldier in 226 QM Co., 87th CSSB, 3rd Sustainment Bde., 3rd ID.
During their sling load operations, soldiers get to set up the loads, which include: positioning the equipment, attaching and properly rigging the sling sets to the equipment. Training is extremely vital because if the process is not done correctly it could cost millions of dollars in damage to either the helicopter or the cargo load.
This training gives the Soldiers a chance to learn before their peers about Sling load training.
Many of the soldiers are supply or logisticians and go through the SLIC course at the Senior Leaders Course.
The SSA Soldiers are looking forward to having more sling load training helicopter. Their next sling load missions are taking place on July 12 and 26.
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