Photo By Staff Sgt. Benjamin Green | Four U.S. Soldiers, all cargo specialists with the 390th Seaport Operations Company...... read more read more
JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. – The feeling of being pushed by 120-mph winds is something very few people have ever experienced. Even fewer have felt it while an aircraft is hovering just a few feet above their heads. During an annual Extended Combat Training exercise for the 390th Seaport Operation Company, this is exactly what eight U.S. Army Reserve soldiers had a chance to experience.
With a CH-47 Chinook helicopter hovering just a few feet overhead and a rotor wash speed of close to 120 mph, these soldiers linked equipment to the CH-47 Chinook as part of their training in sling-loaded cargo.
These unique soldiers are all specially certified in sling load operations and are the only ones so qualified in a unit of more than 150 soldiers. Spc. Josue Vazquez, a cargo specialist with the 390th SPOC from Ceiba, Puerto Rico, said he and his fellow Soldiers had to attend the sling load operator inspector course at Fort Lee, Va., in order to be qualified for this mission.
“This training is awesome, because it’s an unbelievable experience,” said Sgt. Rafael Rivera, a cargo specialist with the 390th SPOC. “It’s unique, because no one else in our unit gets a chance to do this.”
This job takes more than just attaching a piece of equipment to a chain and then linking it up to an aircraft. There is a lot of preparation that must be taken in order to ensure the safety of the cargo as well the crew and aircraft. Soldiers must tape or tie down any piece of the equipment that could break off and do the math to make sure the rope and chains will hold the load.
Vazquez said the most challenging part of this training is the math required, knowing what kinds of sling set to use, and determining the size and weight of a lot of different equipment.
After the soldiers finish preparing the equipment they will load – a shipping container and a Humvee – the team gets ready for the arrival of the Chinook. The soldiers are especially excited to begin, because this is the first live exercise they have done since attending the school.
“This was exciting for me since this the first time I’ve done training like this outside of the Fort Lee,” said Cpl. Joseph Vargas, a cargo specialist with the 390th SPOC.
Spc. Luis Colomadera, a cargo specialist with the 390th SPOC, said it’s a bit scary since they didn’t have much practice doing it since being at school, but as the helicopter got closer, the team got excited. He added that as soon as they saw the helicopter link up and take off safely, they felt relieved and excited that they did everything right.
As the soldiers cycle between loading the Humvee and the shipping container, the soldiers on the hookup team quickly move to set up and link each load of cargo. Rivera explains that usually there is one soldier to link the reach pedant, another to secure that soldier for safety, and the signalman who tells the aircraft how to maneuver on top of the cargo.
The training was fast-paced and challenging for the soldiers, as each one had to switch through the different positions. Colomadera said that they do all the different jobs in the training, from hooking up the cargo with the reach pendant, to holding the hook-up man and being the signalman.
The most impressive part of the training is the feeling off the wind the helicopter gives off as it hovers overhead, otherwise known as rotor wash. Rotor wash can be more than 100 mph, Vazquez said.
“It’s very surreal, very accelerating, it makes your adrenaline start pumping,” he said.
Rivera said it feels like hurricane winds, and the 120- to 140-mph winds could knock you over if don’t brace yourself. Vazquez added that having the helicopter hovering overhead can be intimidating. He said they need to have confidence in all the other soldiers around them to guarantee their safety, but it’s exciting nonetheless.
As the training wrapped up, the soldiers enjoyed a familiarization ride on the Chinook; the team was all smiles. Vargas said that since they have been working together, they have become a better team. He said they understand each other and know exactly what each of them has to do to complete the mission.
| Date Taken: | 08.04.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 08.06.2013 12:38 |
| Story ID: | 111432 |
| Location: | VIRGINIA, US |
| Hometown: | CEIBA, PR |
| Web Views: | 183 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Sling load specialists get first live helo exercise, by SGT Marco Gutierrez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT