Triple Nickel Helocast

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, UNITED STATES

07.17.2015

Video by Staff Sgt. John Briggs 

5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   

Dropping out of helicopters, into a body of water, to perform water insertions is called helocast. The 555th engineer brigade, known as “triple nickel” executes this training, with support from bravo company, second of the one fifty- eight assault helicopter battalion, at American lake on Joint Base Lewis McChord, to prepare soldiers for sapper and ranger schools. This marks the first time these units have used the UH-60 Blackhawks together in this capacity, enhancing their combined capabilities, and improving the confidence and proficiency of the participants.

2LT TYLER STEPHENS:
SO WE GOTTA BE READY FOR ANYTHING. SO IF WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, INSERT SOMEWHERE IN THE WATER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THIS GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO…TO KNOW THAT YOU CAN DO THAT. BUT THEN ALSO, YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE SOLDIERS BEHIND YOU SO YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THEM DO THE SAME THING. SO YOU HAVE TO BE SURE THAT YOUR PROFICIENT, AS WELL AS MAKING THEM PROFICIENT TOO.

REPORTER:
JUMPING FROM A MOVING HELICOPTER INTO A LAKE IS NOT FOR EVERYONE, AND PUSHING PAST THESE HURDLES IS SELF-REWARDING ON THIS ONE-WAY TRIP.

SFC TYLER MEANS:
PROBABLY FEEL BETTER ABOUT THEMSELVES THAT THEY CAN OVERCOME, YOU KNOW, HEIGHTS, WATER, BECAUSE THERE ARE A FEW OF THEM OUT HERE THAT CAN’T SWIM, ARE AFRAID OF HEIGHTS AND THEY COME OUT AND OVER COME THAT BECAUSE THEY DON’T HAVE A CHOICE. ONCE THEY’RE IN THE BIRD THEY GO OUT.

REPORTER:
TRIPLE NICKEL CONDUCTS THIS TRAINING ABOUT EVERY SIX WEEKS, SO FEEL FREE TO DROP IN AND SEE THEM IN ACTION. FOR THE FIFTH MOBILE PUBLIC AFFAIRS DETACHMENT, I’M STAFF SERGEANT JOHN BRIGGS.

• Date Taken: 07.17.2015
• Date Posted: 07.20.2015 20:10
• Category: Package
• Video ID: 415848
• VIRIN: 150717-A-JB013-926
• Filename: DOD_102608760
• Length: 00:01:28
• Location: JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US