Sling loaders get recertified

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Knowles | First Lt. Shauna Geier (pictured left), the support operations officer of the 203rd BSB, 3rd ABCT, 3rd ID, instructs Soldiers during their practice of sling load operation in the 203rd BSB’s motor pool, on Kelley Hill Sept. 9.  

FORT BENNING, GA, UNITED STATES

09.08.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. Aaron Knowles 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

FORT BENNING, Ga. - Soldiers of the 203rd Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, participated in Sling Load Recertification Training on Kelley Hill Sept. 8-11.

The recertification was part of second phase of recertification in order to prepare the qualified Soldiers to help with expedient resupply missions when the 3rd ABCT transitions into a battalion sized Task Force next year.

First Lt. Shauna Geier, the support operations officer of the 203rd BSB, was the coordinator behind the training.

“Drop zone safety officer recertification and Low Cost Low Altitude training; these are all types of aerial delivery systems and operations,” Geier said.

“This is the first training that a lot of the aerial delivery and sling load trained personnel have had in a long time,” Geier said. “Since this unit wasn’t previously authorized the equipment, we can now get these Soldiers up to date on training.”

Spc. Kyle Aument, a petroleum supply specialist with Co. A, 203rd BSB, 3rd ABCT, 3rd ID, was present for the training as well.

“As a petroleum supply specialist, I wouldn’t normally get this training, but this class is great,” Aument said.

Aument is preparing to move to another duty station in Alaska.

“I’m not sure if I will be using these skills in Alaska, but it’s great to have the training and the experience for whatever comes up,” Aument said.

According to Geier, it is very important for the Soldiers in the Task Force to be trained in these skills.

“This skill is important because as long as you have a clear piece of land to create a pick-up zone, then you can sling load,” Geier said.

“Speed is the key when it comes to resupply,” Geier said. “The task force that 3rd Brigade is transitioning into will be doing those types of aerial deliveries during Joint Readiness Training and deployments, and this is very important in the support of the mission and the maneuver units.”

• Date Taken: 09.08.2015
• Date Posted: 09.15.2015 14:13
• Story ID: 176106
• Location: FORT BENNING, GA, US