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    Soldiers compete for the Air Assault Badge

    Soldiers compete for the Air Assault Badge

    Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Neysa Canfield | A Soldier from the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, gets his Air...... read more read more

    CAMP CASEY, SOUTH KOREA

    07.27.2015

    Story by Sgt. Neysa Canfield 

    2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division

    CAMP CASEY, South Korea - You can see the sweat pouring down and you can tell they are tired just by the look on their faces. You can see a hint of nervousness as they get closer and closer, but as the Air Assault instructor calls for the next group to approach the obstacle course all you hear is a thunderous “Air Assault!”

    Soldiers throughout the Peninsula participated in Air Assault School at Camps Hovey and Casey, South Korea, July 16-27.

    “The course started off with 254 candidates but only 176 of them graduated,” said Master Sgt. Lewis V. Bolen, the operations training and exercise noncommissioned officer in charge with Company A, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-US Combined Division.
    The course started out with day zero, where Soldiers had to run two miles under a designated time and successfully complete the Air Assault obstacle course, all while wearing the Army Combat Uniform. From there Soldiers had to go through different three different phases the Combat Assault Phase, Sling Load Phase and Rappel Phase.

    “Air Assault is physically and mentally demanding,” said 2nd Lt. Samantha Lindemulder, the executive officer for 362nd Signal Company, 41st Signal Battalion, 1st Signal Brigade and also one out of four females to earn the coveted badge. “Not only do you have to meet all the physical requirements but you also have book work that you have to study every single night until the last phase.”

    The Sling load phase was one of the most difficult tasks for the candidates during Air Assault School stated Bolen. When testing out of the Sling load Phase candidates had two minutes to point out three out four deficiencies.

    “Its attention to detail,” stated Pfc. Donte Pittman, a cavalry scout with Company C, 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, when talking about the Sling load phase. “It’s the smallest detail that can get you to fail.”

    Lastly the candidates had to tackle a 12-mile foot march, in which they had to complete in three hours or less on the day of graduation in order to proudly wear their wings and become Air Assault Soldiers.

    “I am extremely excited to wear my wings,” said Lindemulder. “We worked really hard to get here. Regardless of rank or what you do in Army if you have the opportunity to attend this school I would definitely advise to go for it!”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 07.27.2015
    Date Posted: 08.10.2015 21:53
    Story ID: 172704
    Location: CAMP CASEY, KR

    Web Views: 203
    Downloads: 0

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