Courtesy Photo | Staff Sgt. Melanie Manley, right, 532nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - Donning full "battle-rattle," three Airmen from the 532nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron took the plunge in the name of training at the morale, wellness and recreation center-east indoor swimming pool, Dec. 30.
A one-time requirement for all members conducting "outside the wire" operations, the water egress training is another tool to prepare Airmen for possible vehicle roll-over incidents.
"Most specialized training plans are developed from incidents and accidents that have occurred in the past," said Staff Sgt. Melanie Manley, 532nd ESFS non-commissioned officer in charge of training who is deployed from Moody Air Force Base, Ga. "I know of a few vehicle roll-overs that ended badly. With this training, individuals gain confidence not only in themselves but the equipment they are using, hopefully saving lives."
According to Manley, the water egress training is not taught stateside and may be unique to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility where the mission involves traversing bodies of water.
To begin, each member took turns plunging into the water to experience falling in with their helmet and individual body armor. For certification, participants wore blacked out goggles and were spun around for 30 seconds to simulate being in a mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle roll-over.
With one hand across their chest and the other holding their goggles, they fell sideways into the pool. Each member then raised their hand to simulate searching for the breathing apparatus, in this case, from the instructor.
Filled to 2,000 pounds per square inch, each bottle allowed approximately 57 breaths, 2-3 minutes of rapid breathing or 5-7 minutes in a controlled manner. Before members could break the surface, they remained submerged for 30 seconds to practice controlled breathing. Only then did they remove their helmet and vest, ending the test.
For Senior Airman Richard Toy, 532nd ESFS unit deployment manager, also from Moody AFB, this training was invaluable.
"Once the blackout goggles were on, my heart rate went up," Toy, who also fills in on patrols, said. "I was somewhat nervous, disoriented and not quite sure what to expect, but once I got in the water, my training kicked in."
Having completed the training, Toy feels more comfortable about patrolling "outside the wire" in an MRAP and, in case of a vehicle roll-over, the firsthand experience is another tool in his arsenal.
"I have my rifle and sidearm, and now this is another piece for my survival," the Canfield, Ohio, native said. "This [training] gave me the confidence of going out there and being able to come back safely."
| Date Taken: | 12.30.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 01.05.2011 10:54 |
| Story ID: | 63047 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 233 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Security forces Airmen get wet to stay alive, by SrA Tong Duong, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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