Photo By Abigail Meyer | Students rappel from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during Air Assault School at Fort...... read more read more
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FORT BLISS, Texas-- At the base of the Fort Bliss Air Assault School rappel tower, hundreds of rucksacks are lined up in neat rows. Students sit patiently awaiting instruction. Groups of two go by, always jogging, repeating ‘Air Assault!’ in unison, over and over. This training environment fosters discipline, attention to detail and teaches students air assault operations.
“It’s not only mentally challenging, it’s very physically challenging as well. We have a lot of exams, a lot of data that they have to keep up with, be able to test on it. It’s also a very condensed course,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jose Ramirez, noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Fort Bliss Air Assault School, Iron Training Detachment, 1st Armored Division. “A lot of information’s being given to the students in a matter of days and they have to be tested in the next day or so.”
Students stood in line for their turn down the tower. It was day seven of the 12-day course and their first chance to practice the skills they learned here Friday. With arms folded, they made their way to the edge, telling the cadre “Right hand, brake hand.” Going down the ropes students use their right hand to “brake” as they descend. They start by walking down the wall, and by the end of the course will exit an airborne helicopter, rappelling to the ground.
“Safety is one of the biggest things. We do emphasize (the mantras) later on when we’re going out of the aircraft or while they’re doing anything with dangerous equipment,” Ramirez said. “It emphasizes you have to repeat this so we try to instill it in their brain so it becomes natural instinct.”
Any Soldier can attend the course, with the permission of their command. This cycle, there are 36 students from various units outside of Fort Bliss – active duty, National Guard, Reserve and three Airmen.
“They’re learning the fundamentals of air assault operations, moving equipment and personnel, also as an attack force,” Ramirez said. “They’ll know every helicopter used in the Army arsenal, the capabilities in the Army and how they can use it for each of those, either to transport equipment or for any support as far as attack is concerned.”
The course is rigorous – physically and mentally demanding. Students are tested throughout the course – starting with the obstacle course on “day 0” and finishing with the 12-mile foot march that culminates with their graduation.
“They have to complete the obstacle course, be able to pass that, the 2-mile run, there’s a 6-mile foot march and a 12-miler. There’s two hand-written tests, one hand and arm signal and then inspection with the sling loads that they have to pass in order to graduate,” Ramirez said.
The NCOs running the course treat all students the same. Students are known by their student numbers rather than rank. Sgt. Maj. Jamie Price was glad to be back with Soldiers after graduating from the U.S. Sergeants Major Academy here in June.
“It feels great. I feel rejuvenated. I’m motivated every day because with your peers it’s a lot different than it is with a lot more junior Soldiers and junior officers as well,” said Price, who is en route to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, for his next duty assignment.
The course isn’t something Soldiers should attend on a whim. Capt. Jacqlyn Tsao, assigned to Indianapolis Recruiting Battalion, Indiana, said she knew what she was getting herself into and highly recommends the course.
“Definitely be physically fit coming in here. The obstacle course that’s on day zero and there are some things it doesn’t matter how fit you are, if you’ve never used that muscle group before you’re not going to be able to do it,” Tsao said. “Ruck march as much as possible.”
Soldiers conquered the rappel tower and the descent from Black Hawk helicopters, adding a new skillset to their repertoire and a new badge for their uniform. The most recent course graduated 174 students Aug. 24, 2016.
Air Assault School is held once a quarter. The Iron Training Detachment plans to hold a Rappel Master Course in October. You must be air assault qualified to attend.
| Date Taken: | 08.24.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 08.25.2016 14:10 |
| Story ID: | 208176 |
| Location: | EL PASO, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 216 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Right hand, brake hand-turning mantras into instinct, by Abigail Meyer, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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