Military members receive joint tactical training

Participants of the helicopter pre-deployment training practice putting on their safety belts in a UH-60 Black Hawk. During this training, military members were taught how to get on and off a helicopter quickly and safely, how to provide cover for aircraft and how to sling-load cargo.

Members from the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps came out for helicopter pre-deployment training here June 7.

Lt. Col. Kjall Gopaul, 355th Mission Support Group deputy commander, led this multiservice training. It was the first of its kind at D-M.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Kjall Gopaul, 355th Mission Support Group deputy commander, prepares to sling load cargo to a UH-60 Black Hawk during helicopter pre-deployment training. During this training, the UH-60 carried an A-22 cargo bag and a M-1097 high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle.

This training was conducted on an Army UH-60 Black Hawk.“I learned a lot of things I didn’t know about, things I probably wouldn’t have learned otherwise,” said U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Adam Jimenez, Bulk Fuel Alpha inspector instructor. “It’s important to know how to get on and off a helo safely. We learned dry runs first to get use to everything, then we got on the aircraft. This will help in case you are in an environment that you need to get out of the aircraft quickly and safely.

”There were two training sessions with 55 participants. Military members were taught how to get on and off a helicopter quickly and safely, how to provide cover for aircraft and how to sling-load cargo. Each participant was able to take a helicopter ride after learning how to safely load and unload the helicopter.“This training is important so we can prepare Airmen, Marines, soldiers, and sailors for going overseas where they will have to work around aircraft.” Gopaul said. “We want to prepare them here, before they deploy, for the sights, sounds and disorientations that are associated with working around aircraft. If we can do that here, we can mitigate risk there.”

“This is a multiservice success story for D-M,” Gopaul said. “We have sailors, Marines, soldiers and Airmen all working together for a common mission. D-M was able to demonstrate its success as a showpiece for joint training.”This training was offered to all local branches of the military.The UH-60 Black Hawk is a utility tactical transport helicopter that has enhanced overall mobility. The Black Hawk’s critical components and systems are armored and its airframe is designed to progressively crush on impact to protect the crew and passengers. The mission of the UH-60 is to provide air assault, general support, aero medical evacuation, command and control, and special support to combat operations. It has been a cornerstone of tactical operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.