Photo By Master Sgt. Matthew Keeler | Soldiers from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 109th Infantry Regiment, deploy from a...... read more read more
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WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- Soldiers from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 109th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, deployed from a CH-47 Chinook to a training site on April 9, 2021.
“It was a great opportunity for our Soldiers to train on hot and cold loadouts, along with getting the experience of deploying into a potentially dangerous area,” said Staff Sgt. Dave Mattox, readiness noncommissioned officer for Bravo Co.
The Soldiers were given a briefing by crews of the chinook on the proper loading and unloading procedures, safety concerns, and more. The crew, part of the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, took time to make sure the Soldiers from Bravo Co. were well-prepared before they stepped foot upon the ramp.
“For some Soldiers, this is the first time that they are boarding a helicopter, let alone training to board and then deploy,” said Mattox.
Once the safety briefing was concluded, the crew and the noncommissioned officers of the company worked together to instill the proper loading and deployment. The Soldiers from Bravo Co. were heading to a training area, so they carried their rucksacks and weapons, which meant that they required more coordination; something that practice runs and deployments helped accomplish.
With the drills accomplished, the Soldiers were checked by the leaders for pre-combat checks and it was time to go. With the blades spinning the Soldiers lined up in two lines to board their prospective chinook. Just like they practiced, the Soldiers were counted by the leadership and boarded in short order.
The crew chiefs checked over the loaded Soldiers, before the signal went out and the ramp went up. The Chinooks rose and the troops were headed to their training site. Even with ear protection, the Soldiers utilized hand signals to signal the amount of time till their deployment. Shifting their rucksacks at the appropriate time, the Soldiers prepared to head out.
With the signal from the crew chief, the two lead NCOs were the first down the ramp to set the perimeter and direct the Soldiers to take up their prescribed places to provide security.
“It is important that the Soldiers get off the ramp, move to their security position, and get down into the prone position,” said Mattox. “Depending on the kind of environment that a Soldier may deploy from a chinook into, there could be sand or rocks around that are swept up by the pressure of the chinook’s blades.”
Once the Soldiers were successfully deployed, the ramp came up and the chinooks rose back into the air. And, when they were safely away, the company's NCOs took charge to lead the Soldiers to the rally point.
“It is important that we continue to have this kind of training,” said Mattox. “It helps support the training of the pilots and their crew chiefs with deploying Soldiers; it helps the Soldiers with properly boarding and deploying from a helicopter; and, it develops our leaders into planning and preparing for training and situations like this.”
With the Soldiers from Bravo Co. deployed to their training area, they were ready to continue the rest of their training.
| Date Taken: | 04.09.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 04.13.2021 16:06 |
| Story ID: | 393717 |
| Location: | WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 61 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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