A 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Soldier gives hand signals to an approaching UH-60 Black Hawk crew assigned to 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, preparing to hook up a 500-gallon water blivet during sling load training conducted in the Fort Carson training area Dec. 6, 2016. (Photo by Capt. Shaun Manley)
By Capt. Shaun T. Manley
4th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
Getting food and equipment to austere environments can be challenging, but using aircraft to assist combats that challenge.
An UH-60 Black Hawk assigned to 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, carries a 500-gallon water blivet during sling load operations training conducted with Soldiers assigned to 10th Special Forces Group in the Fort Carson training area, Dec. 6, 2016. (Photo by Capt. Shaun Manley)
An aircrew assigned to Company B, 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, used a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to conduct sling load training with Soldiers of 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Fort Carson’s training area Dec. 6, 2016.
“We were excited to support this training and put our aircraft skills to work for the ground Soldiers,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher Coughlin, Black Hawk pilot, Company B, 3rd AHB. “Conducting air-assault operations is a timely and effective way to move equipment around the battlefield.”
Members of 10th SFG(A) practiced on how to safely sling, or hook up, various loads to the utility helicopter in addition to how to communicate with the aircrew using hand and arm signals and radios.
The team moved palletized equipment, 500 gallon water blivets and snowmobiles, using the sling ropes, cargo nets and aircraft.
An UH-60 Black Hawk aircrew assigned to 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, approaches awaiting 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Soldiers preparing to hook up a 500-gallon water blivet during sling load training Dec. 6, 2016, in the Fort Carson training area. (Photo by Capt. Shaun Manley)
“It’s important that we continue increasing our capabilities and figure out how to best support the ground units,” said Coughlin. “Being able to successfully sling load the snow machines increases the capabilities for 10th Special Forces Group and the Army.”
Prior to the event, air assault-qualified leaders trained the Soldiers on where to position themselves as the aircraft approached the load and how to properly secure the equipment to the aircraft.
As the aircraft maneuvered above the equipment, the Soldiers successfully completed their mission of communicating and hooking up the ropes so that the aircraft could move the load to another location and circle back for another load.
A UH-60 Black Hawk aircrew assigned to 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, approaches Soldiers and a sling load consisting of two snowmobiles assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) during a training event conducted in the Fort Carson training area Dec. 6, 2016. (Photo by Sgt. Gregory Summers)
“These Soldiers were very motivated and did a great job,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Adam Garrison, Black Hawk pilot, Company B, 3rd AHB. “I could see that they had received prior training and were comfortable despite some of them never conducting this type of training before using actual aircraft.”
As the final sling load movement consisting of two snowmobiles was completed, the aircrew and ground Soldiers completed an after-action review of the operation to ensure they captured lessons learned for the next training event.
“This training ensured the Soldiers were trained and ready to execute air-assault operations,” said Coughlin. “They now have a better understanding of one of the capabilities the aviators bring to the fight, and we look forward to our future operations and training events together.”
An UH-60 Black Hawk assigned to 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, hovers as 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Soldiers hook up palletized equipment during sling load training conducted in the Fort Carson training area Dec. 6, 2016. (Photo by Capt. Shaun Manley)
An UH-60 Black Hawk aircrew assigned to 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, sling loads two snowmobiles during a training event with 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Dec. 6, 2016, in the Fort Carson training area. (Photo by Sgt. Gregory Summers)