Photo By Staff Sgt. Francis Horton | Members of the 620th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion take a moment with Air Force...... read more read more
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Illinois – Service members with the U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., held a joint-training exercise with emergency service civilians Sept. 6.
Participants practiced sling-load operations, attaching supplies and vehicles to the bottom of a hovering helicopter with a harness, demonstrating the capabilities to take emergency necessities into disaster areas.
“The training mission was to maintain proficiency in air assault operations and familiarize our civilian counterparts with helicopter operations,” said Maj. Brant Gunther, Joint Mobility Action Officer, USTRANSCOM and executive officer of the mission.
Service members from the 620th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion provided vehicles and Soldiers for the joint training operation said Maj. Brad Haury, executive officer, 620th CSSB.
Haury was assigned to USTRANSCOM in the past and wanted to volunteer himself and his Soldiers for the training, he said. He was also instrumental in bringing cadets from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Ill., to the training operations
“That’s where I went to school,” Haury said. “I figured it might be something they would be interested in.”
Along with service members, emergency service specialists from Massac County, Ill., as well as the Illinois Civil Air Patrol, a civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, trained with Soldiers, Airmen and Sailors on proper sling-load operations, Gunther said.
Training started early on Scott AFB with classes on the basics of military vehicles and helicopters, as well as safety precautions during the training. After classroom training, participants moved to the flight line for practice.
Hook-ups for sling-loads require two people because of intense winds created by a low hovering helicopter. One to make sure the cargo is secured and one to prevent the first from toppling over in the rotor wash.
Not only is the training important in the event of a disaster, it also helps build a rapport with the civilian emergency service personnel USTRANSCOM may rely on in the future, Gunther said.
Disaster recovery for a state is generally handled by the state’s National Guard, however U.S. Army Reserve units may provide support if needed and with proper authorization, said Lt. Col. Doug Sharp, commander, 620th CSSB.
While the training is good familiarization for civilian emergency services and service members, it also offered a rare opportunity for a group of cadets to get out of the classroom and into real world experiences.
“It’s a good opportunity to do some of the fun things we do in the Army,” said Master Sgt. Gary Villalobes, senior military science instructor, SUI Carbondale.
Villalobes received an email from Haury, inviting as many cadets as he could bring, he said.
Despite the early morning, the cadets were eager to learn and happy to make the trek to Scott AFB for extra training. They were on the road at 5am Saturday to make it in time, said Villalobes.
“We’d like to get more ROTC programs involved,” Haury said. “We’re giving the cadets an opportunity to see some of the things we do during Battle Assembly.”
“This will help the 620th CSSB recruit more officers who would like to stay in the St. Louis area,” Haury said.
So far, the cadets are impressed.
“ROTC has a lot of good training, but it’s not as hands on,” said Cadet Allison Lampe, ROTC, SIU Carbondale. “Nothing makes me happier than riding in a helicopter.”
“The other cadets missed out. This was definitely worth coming out for and was a great morale booster,” said Cadet Eduardo Sanchez, ROTC, SIU Carbondale, Ill.
USTRANSCOM is a joint operations command, which oversees and coordinates transportation assets to allow the government to project and sustain forces wherever needed.
| Date Taken: | 09.06.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 10.07.2014 12:46 |
| Story ID: | 144497 |
| Location: | SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 228 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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