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    Rollover training proves useful for Soldiers in Laghman

    LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Training service members for war-time deployment involves training to prevent accidents, and training to minimize casualties and damages, should an accident occur.

    For Soldiers of the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, the latter came into play as they put their vehicle rollover training to real-world use, March 20.

    A Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicle tipped off the road, into a seven-foot ditch, during a night-time patrol.

    There were no major injuries during the accident due to the Soldiers' training and discipline, said the platoon leader, U.S. Army 1st Lt. Raymond P. Skinner III.

    "The HEAT training prepared us for the incident that happened," Skinner said. "The Soldiers had built-in muscle memory. The training taught them the good safety habits of wearing seatbelts as well as the gunner's safety harness."

    U.S. Army Pfc. William E. Timmons, from Manning, S.C., a gunner with 4th squad, was one of the soldiers who benefitted from the safety equipment.

    "At first I didn't really appreciate the gunner's harness," Timmons said. "I [only] wore it [because] of the standard operating procedure. The accident was a good reminder to put it on once I get in the vehicle."

    During the rollover, the Soldiers worked as a team to cut each other out of their seatbelts, checking for injuries and setting up a security perimeter.

    Perhaps the most important outcome of the accident is the new attitude that these soldiers have about their training.

    "We didn't want to do it [training exercise] ...But, in reality, it prepared us for the real-world event," Powell said.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 03.20.2010
    Date Posted: 03.29.2010 17:54
    Story ID: 47411
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    Web Views: 92
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