Photo By Lance Cpl. Glen Santy | Marines and sailors from Special Operations Training Group, II Marine Expeditionary...... read more read more
Subscribe
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - The fierce winds created by helicopter blades churned the jellyfish-infested waves of the Atlantic Ocean, tossing and turning Marines and sailors as they searched for the rope that dangled from the aircraft. The water practically blinded them as they collectively searched; holding on to each other so no man was left behind. The elusive rope began to pull on their harnesses and gradually lifted, propelling their bodies upward from the water.
Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366 and Special Operations Training Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, practiced these techniques July 14 for special operations they may need to execute in the future.
The types of training methods used were special purpose insertion and extraction, helocasting and Jacobs ladder training all as a part of the SOTG’s cast master course at Landing Zone 22 in the Atlantic Ocean July 14.
Helocast training gives the Marines a chance to practice exiting out of the rear of an aircraft. The helicopter hovers roughly 10 feet above the water and progresses forward at a slow 10 knots while the Marines jump out.
Jacob’s ladder training is when a rope ladder is lowered from the back of an aircraft. The SOTG Marines and sailors grab hold and climb back into the aircraft.
Special insertion and extraction training is perhaps the most difficult and most hazardous training the Marines and sailors endured. The service members attached themselves to a rope that was connected to the aircraft and then were pulled out of the water, dangled from the rope, and reinserted on dry land.
“The most difficult part is flying the aircraft with five Marines dangling below you, 300 feet off the ground,” said Capt. David Berger, a CH-53E pilot with HMH-366. “The potential for something to go wrong is pretty high.”
There’s a little apprehension as the team prepares for the exercise, explained Sgt. Kyle Duignan, an amphibious raids instructor with SOTG. The Marines triplecheck their gear to make sure all is ready, checking over their own, then their buddies’, and then again in the aircraft.
The Marines and sailors were required to complete wet SPIE rigging along with the normal SPIE rigging done from land-to-land. The addition of water makes getting the job done that much more difficult and dangerous, noted Cpl. Kenneth Riles, a crew chief with HMH-366.
“Our biggest fear is for somebody to get injured,” said Riles. “Somebody could hit their head on the way out of the aircraft and potentially drown, so we always have to be watching.”
An additional hazard to the wet SPIE rigging training was the type of aircraft used. Usually the CH-53E isn’t used for this, explained Berger. The downward wind the aircraft creates, known as rotor wash, forces water to spray against the dangling Marines adding confusion and making the task that much harder.
The Marines explained that they go through a wide range of emotions during the course that can vary from fear to pure adrenaline.
“We are constantly thinking about the safety of the Marines,” said Berger. “If there’s an unsafe situation, we’ll spot it and bring the aircraft up immediately.”
“When you go out it’s about having a good time,” said Duignan. “The first time is probably when you have the most apprehension, but for the most part, we’re laughing and joking and just enjoying the ride.”
| Date Taken: | 07.14.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.22.2011 13:04 |
| Story ID: | 74143 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 335 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Hammerheads rehearse SPIE rigging techniques, by LCpl Glen Santy, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT