Simplifying Sling Load for Soldiers

Photo By Sgt. Elizabeth Clark | BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Sgt. Cesilia Valdovinos, a culinary specialist with the Dahlke West Forward Support Company, 1-41 Infantry Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, puts a clamp together at a sling load yard on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Apr. 3. Soldiers with the 1-41 Inf. Bn. trained under 3rd Infantry Division Resolute Support Sustainment Brigade Soldiers to learn all aspects of sling load operations, from disassembling and reassembling clamps, inspecting cargo nets and sling legs, and rigging up cargo for transport. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Elizabeth White with 3ID RSSB/Released)  

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

04.03.2018

Story by Spc. Elizabeth Clark 

3rd Division Sustainment Brigade

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Soldiers with the 3rd Infantry Division Resolute Support Sustainment Brigade conducted a sling load class Apr. 2-3.

The RSSB sling load team showed students proper inspection and rigging procedures and helped them rig up cargo to be transported throughout the Combined Joint Operations Area - Afghanistan.

Sling load consists of rigging cargo to helicopters, either with cargo nets or sling legs attached to the containers themselves. The Soldiers inspect the nets and sling legs before rigging up any cargo, ensuring there are no tears that could result in a broken net and lost load.

Over the course of two days, students learned all of these aspects of sling load operations. The first day was made up of classroom training, filling out paperwork and going through regulations. On the second day the class went hands-on and the students were able to rig up cargo loads at the Bagram sling load yard.

“We are training incoming personnel just getting into theater on sling load operations,” said Spc. John Owens, an automated logistical specialist with the 3rd Inf. Div. RSSB, and one of the instructors on the sling load team. “We’re doing inspections of the equipment that we have and how to properly sling load cargo, basically everything needed to have a successful day at sling load.”

Soldiers from various forward operating bases and units came to Bagram to learn proper sling load procedures. Operations are limited at small, outlying bases, but with this class, they can increase capabilities of their FOBs.

“I’m taking this class to better serve my unit,” said Pvt. Bradly Cooper, an ammunition specialist with the 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. “We can get more supplies in and operations will go smoother.”

With choppers flying overhead, 60-pound hooks swinging underneath them, and thousands of pounds of cargo that could potentially come crashing down, sling loading can be a dangerous job for untrained individuals.

The students were able to go hands-on and hook cargo to helicopters to send off.

“My heart shook a little bit the first time, but afterwards it was like a roller coaster. It was really fun,” said Cooper. “People talk about it but when you’re actually doing it it’s a different experience.”

Many of the RSSB instructors, teaching the class for the first time, hope what they have shown the students over the several days of instructions will be useful once they return back to their units. The training enable commands that are in austere locations to better prepare for sling load operations.

“For the incoming personnel, I hope it influences them to think about everything that we’ve been showing them,” Owens said. “When the time comes, hopefully our teachings will pass down so they will not have any problems when it comes to them doing their own loads by themselves.”

• Date Taken: 04.03.2018
• Date Posted: 04.11.2018 00:56
• Story ID: 272582
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF
• Hometown: FORT CARSON, CO, US
• Hometown: FORT STEWART, GA, US