US Army Air Assault Course – Camp Smith, New York

Spr Chris Rowan, 2 CER, and Pte Alex Sanchez-Groleau, 3 RCR, prepare to sling-load a cargo net to a UH-60A Blackhawk helicopter.

Story and photos by: Lt A.N. Loggie, 6 Pl Comd, N Coy, 3 RCR

During the month of July 2011, three soldiers from November Company, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment along with one soldier from the 2 Combat Engineer Regiment were sent to Camp Smith, New York to participate in the United States Army Air Assault Course. Run by the United States National Guard: Warrior Training Center from Fort Benning, Georgia, the course provides candidates instruction on pathfinder operations—including the selection and marking of landing zones, drop zones, pick-up zones, emergency aeromedical evacuation procedures, sling-load operations, and rappelling as a method of insertion.

The four-man contingent forming the November Company Team arrived at Camp Smith, New York well prepared for the course. The company conducted its own pre-deployment selection and training prior to arriving. What they were not prepared for was the extreme heat wave moving through the eastern seaboard at the time of the course. The soldiers off-loaded their equipment at John F. Kennedy Airport into 112 degree Fahrenheit (44 degree Celsius) heat, a vast change from the milder climate of Petawawa, Ontario.

The course begins with Zero Day, which consists of a 2-mile timed run in physical fitness attire, a quick change parade into a combat uniform and off to begin a gruelling obstacle course built strategically in the side of the Appalachian Mountains. The obstacle course focuses on the soldiers' ability to climb ropes, deal with their fear of heights and push through the pain of being "smoked" between obstacles by an Air Assault Sergeant. Upon completion a kit inspection is conducted to ensure every candidate has arrived with the required equipment, as attention to detail is a huge component of the course. Ten to fifteen percent of potential students do not make it past Zero Day. Once a soldier successfully receives a "go" on Zero Day, they are officially considered an Air Assault course candidate.

Phase One of the course is the air mobile phase, which deals with air assault operations, pathfinder operations, hand and arm signals, aircraft data and familiarization, aircraft safety, and aeromedical evacuation operations. Although candidates are taught large amounts of information during class, this phase is the most physically demanding as candidates receive intense physical training sessions not only in the morning but in between classes, prior to meal times and before bed. Candidates who successfully pass the written and practical test for Phase One are required to complete a 6-mile rucksack march with a 45 lb kit list in less than 90 minutes. Failure results in an immediate "no-go" and removal from the course.

Lt Adam Loggie, 3 RCR, at the rappel tower during phase three of the course. With him are soldiers from Ecuador, Germany and the United States.

Completing the march early in the morning, candidates quickly move into Phase Two, the sling-load operations phase. During this phase candidates learn how to prepare external sling loads for various United States Armed Forces helicopters. Candidates gain hands on experience with the M-1097 HMMWV, M149A2 Water Trailer, 5,000 lb and 10,000 lb Cargo Nets, A-22 Cargo Bag, and Multi-Fuel Blivets. This phase is definitely the most mentally challenging as everything must be committed to memory, including the tensile strength of materials, lift capabilities of supporting aircraft, and the rigging and inspection of prepared loads. Candidates are also given the opportunity to rig a load, inspect it and conduct a hook up with a UH-60A Blackhawk helicopter. Passing the written test and inspecting four of the six possible loads to perfection will get you a "go" on this phase. Apart from Zero Day, this demanding test is the second largest reason for the large attrition rate on the Air Assault course. The November Company Team worked tirelessly after classroom hours under the stadium lights on the parade square at Camp Smith ensuring each soldier was confident they could inspect prepared external loads successfully.

Phase Three, the final phase of the course, shifted focus to insertion methods during an air assault operation. More specifically candidates became masters at basic rappelling operations in which they were assessed on hook-up techniques, emergency lock-in procedures, rappelling with and without full fighting order, including rucksack and weapon, as well as belay procedures. Candidates rappelled from a 75 foot wall, 75 foot skid open side, and from a UH-60A Blackhawk helicopter hovering between 80 to 100 feet. Failure to hook-up or a fatal hook-up results in a "no-go" and Zero Day drop from the course (for US Army soldiers, a failure from any phase means they can come back and complete the course starting after the last successful phase they completed if they do so within 6 months, except when a fatal hook-up is committed. In this instance, a US Army soldier must begin the course over from Zero Day for any successive attempts). It was in this phase that the November Company Team, referred to as "The Canadians" truly separated themselves from the remaining candidates. It was evident that the training level and confidence portrayed in the November Company Team was far superior to that of their American and International peers on course, as noted by the Air Assault Sergeants, their cadet cadre and many of the candidates. After completing the UH-60A Blackhawk rappel and all the performance objective checks on the rappel tower, candidates are dismissed to obtain some much needed rest.

Air Assault Sgt instructing the class on how to prepare and inspect the M1097 HMMWV for sling-load operations.

Pte Kyle Rogers, 3 RCR, prepares to rappel from a UH-60A Blackhawk helicopter.

With graduation in their sights, there is a large and gruelling obstacle standing between a candidates' successful completion of the course. At 0200 hrs on graduation day candidates, sweltering in the already 90 degree Fahrenheit (32 degree Celsius) heat and humidity of the extreme heat advisory, step-off on a 12-mile rucksack march to be completed before the sun rises in order to minimize heat casualties. The 19.2 kilometre march over undulating terrain in the Appalachian Mountains, is to be completed in 3 hours or less and gives way to ten to fifteen percent failures. With the November Company Team working in pairs, the four Canadian soldiers crossed the line strong and proud to have achieved something great. After one final kit inspection to prove the candidates carried the correct weight they are ordered to refit and be on the parade square to receive the Air Assault badge.

With the course now complete and the November Company Team soldiers back home to the cooler temperatures of Petawawa, each took away a wealth of knowledge and honed their skill sets. They will undoubtedly share with their peers and subordinates the experiences of the Air Assault course as the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment moves into the role of specializing in helicopter-borne operations. Participation from November Company in two US Army Air Assault course serials within the last year has set the conditions for success for the future training and development of the helicopter-borne capabilities of the unit.