U.S. Army Air Assault School is a 10-day course

U.S. Army Air Assault School is a 10-day course designed to prepare Soldiers for insertion, evacuation, and pathfinder missions that call for the use of multipurpose transportation and assault helicopters. Air Assault training focuses on the mastery of rappelling techniques and sling load procedures, skills that involve intense concentration and a commitment to safety and preparation.

Most Air Assault cadets will attend Sabalauski Air Assault School, located at Fort Campbell, Ky. Training is broken into three phases, each lasting three days: Combat Assault Phase, Sling Load Phase, and Rappel Phase. On graduation day, cadets will undergo a 12-mile rucksack march. When they complete the march, they will earn their wings as official Air Assault Soldiers.

Air Assault School is necessarily physically and mentally demanding, as Soldiers will be required to handle heavy equipment and perform dangerous tasks under extremely stressful conditions. Successful candidates must possess a keen eye for detail and a dedication to meticulous preparation.

Training

Day Zero

Candidates must successfully complete an obstacle course and a two-mile run before they are officially considered “Air Assault Students”.

Day One

Candidates will undergo a six-mile march, followed by a strict inspection.

Combat Assault Phase

During this three-day phase, candidates will learn aircraft safety and orientation, along with the principles of aero-medical evacuation, pathfinder operations, and combat assault operations among several other topics. Soldiers will be given a written and “hands-on” test following this phase.

Slingload Operations

During the second three-day phase of Air Assault, candidates will learn how to rig equipment onto rotary aircraft with a sling, an operation that generally requires the loading Soldier to hook a tether to the underbelly of a helicopter hovering just a few feet above the ground. Typical loads can range anywhere from 1,000 to 8,000 pounds.

This operation is extremely precise, and requires intense preparation and concentration from all Air Assault team members. Trainees must pass a written and hands-on test before moving to the next phase.

Rappelling Phase

In the third and final three-day phase of Air Assault training, Soldiers receive basic instruction on ground and aircraft repelling procedures. By the end of the phase, trainees must complete two repels from a 34-foot tower and two repels from a UH-60 Blackhawk, hovering at 70-90 feet.

Graduation Day

Soldiers must complete a 12-mile foot march in full gear plus a rucksack in less than three hours.

Graduates are awarded the Air Assault Badge and the 2B ASI (Additional Skill Identifier).

Entrance Information

Contact your unit commander for information on how to attend this specialized school. Applicants must also meet the following conditions:

• Applicants must meet height and weight standards outlined in IAW AR 600-9.

• Applicants must have one year service remaining on active duty upon completion of the course.

• All applicants must complete a 12-mile foot march within 90 days of the class start date and a an obstacle course within 60 days of the start date. An equipment inspection must be completed by the home unit 30 days prior to the class start date.

 http://www.goarmy.com/soldier-life/being-a-soldier/ongoing-training/specialized-schools/air-assault.html

Army watercraft, divers, sustainment troops to participate in RIMPAC 2014

Hawaii-based Army watercraft assets, divers and sustainment troops are set to play major roles in surface/vertical lift, casualty evacuation, and Logistics over the Shore operations during the biennial Rim of the Pacific 2014 exercise, June 26 through Aug. 1.

The 8th Theater Sustainment Command troops will join the 23 nations, 49 ships, six submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel participating in the world's largest international exercise, designed to provide unique training opportunities and strengthen the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring safety of sea lanes and security in the world's oceans.

Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Roth, the 8th Theater Sustainment Command's Sea Operations lead, said that nearly 70 percent of the world is water and 80 percent of the world's population lives on or near a coast, so freedom of movement is essential, especially in the Pacific region.

"The global maritime environment is too large and too complex for any one service or nation to safeguard and respond to situations in and around it alone," he said.

Rim of the Pacific 2014 will exercise a wide range of capabilities and situations, from disaster response and maritime security operations to sea control and complex warfighting. It will also feature a humanitarian assistance/disaster relief event to facilitate training and certification for expeditionary forces to respond to foreign disasters.

During the exercise, the 524th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion will set-up and validate its Early Entry Command Post's ability to monitor, battle track, and provide mission command in an austere environment.

A 163rd Transportation Detachment crew will man Logistic Support Vessel 2, named the U.S. Army Vessel CW3 Harold A. Clinger, for long range escort and harbor approach operations with the Navy and Coast Guard, and provide eight surface lifts between Kaneohe Bay and Kawaihae Harbor, in support of 3rd Marines. The vessel will also partner with 25th Infantry Division's 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, for casualty evacuation operations and a shipboard aerial resupply with the New Zealand Navy.

During Logistics over the Shore operations, the 7th Engineer Dive Detachment will conduct port reconnaissance and the LSV-2 crew will exercise working in unimproved port conditions, as the 545th Transportation Harbormaster Detachment provides command and control to train and validate the unit's Harbormaster Command and Control Center for employment in remote and unpredictable environments.

"Our economies, lives and mutual interest are more intertwined now than ever before in this region," Roth said. "The operations we're participating in this next month will help us learn, communicate and operate with our counterparts, as we discover each other's capabilities and how we can work together to maximize their impact."

 By Sgt. 1st Class Mary Ferguson, 8th Theater Sustainment Command

  http://www.army.mil/article/128993/Army_watercraft__divers__sustainment_troops_to_participate_in_RIMPAC_2014/

Liberty High Football Player and Army Future Soldier is a Top Performer

Sgt .1^st Class Cruz from the Army Northland Career Center presented the Army Top Performer Award to Liberty High Football Player and Army Future Soldier Pvt. Issac Kinard.  The Top Performer recognizes coaches and players whom demonstrate the Army Values of loyalty, duty, respect, self-less service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. Congratulations Pvt. Kinard.

Hooooaah!

Army Top Performer Awards to Blue Valley North

Staff Sgt. Workman from the Army Overland Park Army Career Center presented the Army Top Performer awards to Blue Valley North’s Basketball Coach Ryan Phifer and Blue Valley North Player Cooper Cook.  The Top Performer recognizes coaches and players whom demonstrate the Army Values of loyalty, duty, respect, self-less service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. Congratulations to coach Phifer and student Cooper Cook .

Hoooaah!

APPLY ONLINE TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FUTURE

The online enlistment process will help you get started on your way to a career in the Army. This application is used to prequalify individuals for enlistment and provides more complete information to your local recruiter. By simply filling out this application, you will not be committed to enlist. The application, however, will help us determine which jobs suit your abilities. A recruiter will contact you once you release your application to the Army.

 http://www.goarmy.com/learn/apply.html

BEING A SOLDIER

living well - living up to a higher standard

As a Soldier in the U.S. Army, you're tasked with upholding the Constitution and protecting America's freedoms. But it's not always work — Soldiers have free time just like everyone else to spend with friends and family, or take part in sports or hobbies. Soldiers continually strengthen themselves mentally and physically through Ongoing Training. And most important — Soldiers live the Seven Core Army Values every day.

 http://www.goarmy.com/soldier-life/being-a-soldier.html

Becoming a Soldier

Becoming a Soldier can be challenging, but it's also a rewarding life. The process can be summed up in three steps. The first is to work with a Recruiter. Once you sign up and are sworn in, you attend Basic Combat Training (BCT). Then you learn valuable job skills at Advanced Individual Training (AIT). Each of these steps is explained in more detail below.

 http://www.goarmy.com/soldier-life/becoming-a-soldier.html

Army sweeps 55th Interservice Pistol Championships

FORT BENNING, Ga. (June 26, 2014) -- Soldiers from the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit gave the Army both the individual and team championships at the 55th Interservice Pistol Championships, held here, June 15-20.

The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, or USAMU, Blue won the overall team championship for the ninth consecutive year, while Staff Sgt. Patrick Franks claimed his first overall individual championship.

"One of the reasons why we've been so successful is our ability to have the discipline to train wisely," said Franks. "We really take advantage of the experience that other people have on the team to learn from. Sometimes our military coach sees things that we don't see ourselves, or the other shooters give us insight that help us to be better."

The individual match came down to the final day, with Franks edging out Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Jonathan Shue by one point and USAMU teammate Sgt. 1st Class Michael Gasser by three points.

"I knew it was going to be a tight match and it definitely came down to the wire," Franks said. "One of the best things about being in this unit is the high level of competitions that we shoot in. We are able to take the stress that goes with this kind of competition and use it as a positive."

Besides having the support of the USAMU, Franks also shot alongside his brother Spc. Ryan Franks, a Soldier assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, who competed in his first Interservice championship. Patrick Franks said having his brother around was not only good exposure for his brother to such a highly-competitive environment, but it made him better prepared for the match.

"I was really focused on training him the last two weeks and in turn that helped me become a better shooter as well," Patrick Franks said.

Besides the Army and Army Reserve shooters, competitors from the Marine Corps, the Air Force, the Navy, and the National Guard participated in the annual competition. Competitors shot matches with .22-caliber, .45-cal., center fire and service pistols, ensuring proficiency in a broad array of pistols and enabling the competition to crown the best of the best.

"What I love most about this event is I get to draw from the talent and resources of our entire military," said Lt. Col. Don King Jr., USAMU commander. "While they are out there shooting, competing and having fun, I am pulling in everything and seeing how I can use it to support the warfighter. Everything they do is critical and essential to my mission."

The USAMU Blue team led the team match from start to finish for its ninth consecutive championship. Along with Franks, team members consisted of Gasser, Sgt. Greg Markowski, and Staff Sgt. Jeffery Lewis. They were coached by Staff Sgt. Adam Sokolowski.

"It definitely makes me proud," Sokolowski said. "We train very hard and put a lot of time and effort into it. I know what all of these guys are capable of shooting and it's great to see them accomplish what they try to do."

Besides winning the overall title, Franks also claimed the .22-cal championship and was high shooter in the 2700. Shue won the center fire, service pistol, and Director's matches, while Gasser won the .45-cal match. Sgt. 1st Class Lawrence Carter won the Excellence-in-Competition match. USAMU Blue swept all of the team matches to go along with their overall championship. South Carolina Army National Guard won the high post or station team championship.

The USAMU pistol team turns its focus to the National Pistol Championships at Camp Perry, Ohio, next month. Next up in the Interservice Match Series is the Interservice Rifle Championship, scheduled to be held July 5-13, at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.

 By Michael Molinaro, U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit

  http://www.army.mil/article/128892/Army_sweeps_55th_Interservice_Pistol_Championships/

SkillsUSA students get a taste of Army cooking

 Sgt. Matthews served SkillsUSA teachers and students a fine dessert at the SkillsUSA University
“Passionate about cooking?”  cooking demonstration.

Army Chefs share their Army stories at SkillsUSA

1st Infantry Division's Sgt. Maj. Clark, Sgt. Matthews, and Spc. Maxwell shared their Army chef stories to SkillsUSA teachers and students.
GoArmy.Com

Passionate about cooking?

SkillsUSA University

Passionate about cooking? See what it takes to feed an army!

1st Infantry Division Soldier Specialist Maxwell displays cooking techniques during the” Passionate about cooking?” seminar.

Kansas City Battalion Commander shares story with SkillsUSA delegates

   

      Lt. Col. Dean Somers the Commander of the Kansas City Recruiting Battalion spoke about the similar qualities in SkillsUSA students as those demonstrated by Army Soldiers - self-discipline, motivation, confidence, judgment and problem-solving skills.  Students have a desire for training, diverse experience, mentorship and challenges. ” The Army requires these qualities of its Soldiers, but you already demand them of yourselves”. He continued, “Good luck to you in your future careers. Our Nation’s success depends on your drive to be educated, motivated and strong individuals that will lead in their fields”.