Marines conduct Humvee rollover training

Photo By Cpl. Jacob A. Singsank | Marines with Support Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, climb out of an upside-down Humvee during the Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer near Las Pulgas, April 4-9, in preparation for their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. The training begins as four service members climb into the Humvee simulator wearing all their personal protective equipment, buckle their seatbelts and hold on while the vehicle starts to roll in a 360 degree rotation. After it stops, upside down or on either side, the Marines attempt to climb out, assess the situation and provide security.  

AL, UNITED STATES

04.08.2009

Story by Cpl. Jacob A. Singsank 

1st Marine Logistics Group

To ensure the Marines' combat readiness, they train for the worst and hope for the best.

Marines and Sailors with 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, participated in the Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer in Las Pulgas, April 6-8, in preparation for their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

"The HEAT is a mechanical simulation trainer that familiarizes Marines with the techniques and procedures for egressing a Humvee that has overturned," said Staff Sgt. Frank A. Villaverde, tactics instructor, Battle Simulation Center, Headquarters Battalion, Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command. "It's a training tool for learning how to safely exit a vehicle and evacuate wounded after the vehicle has overturned."

The training begins as four service members climb into the Humvee simulator wearing all their personal protective equipment, buckle their seatbelts and hold on while the vehicle starts to roll in a 360 degree rotation. After it stops, upside down or on either side, the Marines attempt to climb out, assess the situation and provide security.

"Training in the HEAT progresses from simple scenarios in which all occupants are uninjured to more complex circumstances in which one or more of the occupants are wounded and potentially unconscious," said Villaverde, 33, Superior, Ariz.

During the exercise, instructors were stomping on Humvee doors and held smoke machines in the simulator to make the training more realistic.

"The HEAT is a great training experience," said Pfc. Elizabeth N. Bowden, 22, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., a bulk fuel specialist with Bulk Fuel Company, 7th ESB, 1st MLG. "It teaches service members what to expect if they encounter a roll over."

According to the Department of Defense, more then 100 service members have lost their lives in Humvee rollovers since the initial invasion in Iraq. The HEAT training is a response to these non-hostile losses.

Villaverde stated that the Humvee rollover training is required for all Marines and Sailors scheduled to deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan.

"As a planning factor for training, approximately 16 Marines per hour, per HEAT device," Villaverde said. "There are two devices on the Center, so 32 Marines per hour, a little shy of the platoon per hour."

• Date Taken: 04.08.2009
• Date Posted: 04.21.2009 19:20
• Story ID: 32687
• Location: AL, US