Press Release
☷YPG s Airborne Test Force Soldiers help Marine Corps pilots re qualify on sling loads
U.S. Army ( By Press Release office)
Jan 20,2024
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In late August 2023 , three Marine Corps pilots and their crews teamed up with Soldiers and noncommissioned officers from the elite Airborne Test Force at U . S . Army Yuma Proving Ground . They got the chance to practice sling load operations together . Sgt . 1st Class Cody Lavalla , an air drop operations noncommissioned officer , said it was a great opportunity to refresh their skills . The joint training involved using a V - 22 Osprey to lift and drop off a 1 , 600 - pound dummy load . Lavalla explained that the Airborne Test Force often helps Marine Corps pilots fulfill their qualifications . They did a total of nine lifts during the training , with the Osprey returning at night for nine more . The Airborne Test Force also provided ground support , ensuring the load was secure and communicating with the pilots . While there is no school requirement for sling load operations in the Army , a Soldier must have completed certain courses to properly inspect and sign the Sling Load Inspection Form . “In these courses they teach how to inspect various types of items capable of slinging loads , which may be vehicles , trailers or tie - downs , and prepare the loads for various helicopters as preparation and equipment requirements vary depending on the sling being carried out . The cable load varies with the fuselage , ” Lavala said . “We have quite a few people in the shop who are already qualified . ” The purpose of sling loading is to quickly transport equipment or supplies by helicopter , using sling sets , cargo nets and other specially designed equipment , to places that are often short distances and not easily accessible by vehicle . Reach a remote or hostile location . "Army and Marine Corps units either use convoys or any available rotary wing asset , whether it ' s an Osprey , CH - 47 , CH - 53 or UH - 60 , to move the equipment and supplies needed to different locations , " Lavoie Ra said . "There ' s no right or wrong way to do it unless there ' s a weight limit , and you need a bigger helicopter to carry the heavier load . " Participating in joint training not only helps ATF Soldiers stay tactically and technically sharp during hoist operations; Help them maintain combat readiness when called upon . Rawala noted that the YPG terrain is very rough and inaccessible to vehicles , so being able to perform lifting operations is sometimes a logistical necessity . Lavala said having this ability allows us to plug in and use devices that we wouldn ' t normally be able to do . We had to perform sling load recovery operations on the training ground to recover test equipment that had fallen somewhere it shouldn ' t have , such as a hillside . .
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