143rd Transportation Command

Story by 1st Lt. Ryan Pace

by 1st Lt. Ryan J. Pace
143D Transcom Public Affairs Officer

Kuwait- Army Reserve troops trained on the HMMMV Egress Assistance Trainer on August 21, 2006 with trainers from other camps and soldiers in attendance, to get another look at the training equipment that the Army has been fielding to prevent casualties caused my vehicle rollovers in theater.

The egress trainer consists of a 25 degree critical angle, a full rollover without egress and a full rollover with egress, in which soldiers practice tactics and techniques to work as a team and quickly evacuate a flipped over HMMMV.

Troops were reluctant at first, about the experience – especially when asked if they had experienced a rollover before.

"Although I've been in car accidents before, I've never been in a rollover, and can't imagine one like this at full speed," said Maj. Daniel Leavitt, Staff General Secretary for the 143D Transcom in Kuwait.

Safety Officer and Co-Instructor, Lt. Col. Peter Winston, Safety Officer for 143D Transcom, also was on hand to speak on preventive safety measures and a brief history of the HEAT and Army transition to safeguard troops from unnecessary accidents. "The best way to prevent injury is to avoid it," said Winston, supervising the event.

Trainers generally run these systems as much as possible – in order to get 100 soldiers a day through the trainer, six days a week. The focus of the training is to simulate not only how to react to a similar event, but the safety procedures and how the hummmv's locks and handle can be negotiated as well.

"This training doesn't give you the full experience, but it was fun overall and the closest thing to real without getting hurt," said 1st Lt. Christopher Ficquette, General's Aide-de-camp to 143D Transcom Commander, after getting out of the vehicle and completing the training.

Finishing the training display, the instruction was concluded with a short demonstration of the HEAT trainer and comments by participant troops with top Army Officials.

"My pre-conceived notions are blown away- when your upside down on your head, you rely on your ears and buddies to get out safe," said Maj. Patrick Leduc, Staff Judge Advocate for the 143D Transcom, in speaking to a crowd including several high ranking Army officials.

General Griffin, also in attendance, met with troops and instructors as well to review the equipment, speak with troops, and witness a demonstration of the new HEAT trainer.

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