H.E.A.T

HMMWV Egress Assistance Trainer was on the agenda for training today and although I'm a bit beat up from it, I thought it was great initial training.

You know how at amusement parks there's those roller-coaster simulator rides, well picture that on steroids without the movie screen. You have a fire team (in full battle rattle) in a HMMWV simulator that rolls you over... and over and over... depending on the instructors' moods. Alot of times they have the smallest person up in the turret since in a rollover that person can get thrown around and a smaller person is easier for other personnel in the vehicle to secure and hold on to. Guess who was the gunner... yours truly!

Oh yeah and don't think for a moment that the vehicle rolls a couple of times and then goes upright and you get out-- not so much lol! After all the rolling it'll either be on its side or upside down. And then of course you have to make sure everyone can get out, grab equipment and weapons, then exit the vehicle tactically, ready to engage any enemy (and of course in training small arms fire is a must, as is fire and someone getting shot).

My team did a pretty good job holding on to me, but it still didn't stop the equipment flying around from hitting me once or twice or getting manhandled while they tried there best not to lose their grip as we were all tossed around... it was a great day =) It was hot with all our all gear, we were all ridiculously sweaty when we were done, but we learned something that could save our lives or someone else's. There was a bit more to it, tactics and procedure wise, but without going into unnecessary detail I think you all get the idea. My team was extra hot since I volunteered my team to demonstrate (pure selfishness on wanting to make sure my team knew enough to hold me properly and get out safe) and we did battle drills for a while.

Most people seemed to enjoy the day; part of our class went the day before and they had someone throw up and a class before us had some idiot not wear goggles so he got hit in the eye with a weapon and had to be taken to the hospital. But no one in our group today got hurt, banged up a bit.. yes, but some people loved it. Goodtimes =)