Security Forces members battle HEAT

Courtesy Photo | SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Airman 1st Class Jason Tinnin, who is deployed from Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and Senior Airman Shane Larson, who is deployed from Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., from the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron exit the Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer here. HEAT provides military members with training on how to escape a rolled Humvee. (Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Hansen)  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

07.18.2006

Courtesy Story

386th Air Expeditionary Wing

by Staff Sgt. Ryan Hansen
386th AEW/PA

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Security forces members here fight the desert heat daily, but a recent battle with HEAT may one day save their life.

HEAT in this case stands for Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer. This special training apparatus is designed to help Airmen know what to do if their tactical vehicle was to rollover.

"This is really a two-part training exercise," said Master Sgt. John Ward, NCOIC of training for the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, who is deployed from the Idaho Air National Guard. "The first part is how to avoid rollovers in a Humvee, and the second part is if you do get into one, how you get out."

HEAT is an authentic, up-armored Humvee cab suspended six feet off the ground on a flatbed trailer. It sits on two horizontal axles and can turn a full 180 degrees in six seconds. It's powered by a hydraulic motor and has all four seated positions inside the cab including a spot for a gunner.

"This is really a Monster Garage type of thing," Sergeant Ward said of HEAT.

The trainer is owned by the Army's Coalition Forces Land Component Command at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. It is one of only two HEAT systems in the world and the only one in the AOR. It is designed to increase military member's awareness of rollover conditions, how they can avoid them, actions to take if they are involved in one and reinforces the use of seatbelts.

"Many of our (military members) are dying as a result of vehicle rollovers," said Army Sergeant First Class Eva Roberts, deputy director of CFLCC safety. "When CFLCC heard of the concept we decided to build our own. This training has already been credited for saving one Georgian Soldier's life, which makes this training worth its efforts."

After a safety briefing, Airmen enter the HEAT wearing all of their personal protective gear and strap themselves in. The instructor then banks the trainer 25 degrees each way to get the trainees used to the movement before the Humvee is turned all the way over.

"The first time they get in it they're spooked a bit," Sergeant Ward said. "When you're upside down it's easy to get disorientated. Everything is opposite of what you're used to."

Once their world is turned over, the security forces members take their seat belts off, unlatch the combat locks on the doors and egress out. It takes them an average of 20-to-30 seconds to escape the rolled over Humvee.

"This is very good training," said Airman 1st Class Rufus Dixon, a 386th ESFS member deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany. "Getting out of the Humvee with all the gear on when it's upside down is hard. It really takes teamwork."

"Once it's upside down you have to relax, take a deep breath and go through the training steps we were given," said Senior Airman Shila Kingsland, a 386th ESFS member deployed from the Wisconsin Air National Guard. "It was very exciting."

"Getting out of the gun turret spot was hard," said Senior Airman Renee Hvizdak, a 386th ESFS member deployed from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. "Your weight shifts and you have to really concentrate, but everyone helps out."

Hopes are that HEAT will help curb rollover accidents and end Humvee related fatalities. According to CFLCC, there have been 249 rollover injuries and 90 fatalities since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"This training will help (military members) react on memorization when it comes to survival and being in a traumatic experience such as a rollover," Sergeant Roberts said. "Although this simulator doesn't roll nearly as fast or violent as the real thing, it does give an individual the sensation of being upside down and the confusion that comes with it."

And the security forces members here enjoyed this battle with HEAT.

"This training really helps with their confidence if something like this were to happen to them," Sergeant Ward said. "They've all done a very good job."

• Date Taken: 07.18.2006
• Date Posted: 07.18.2006 09:55
• Story ID: 7218
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)