United States Army Air Assault School
Encyclopedia
The Sabalauski Air Assault School (TSAAS) is a FORSCOM TDA unit located at Fort Campbell
, Kentucky
. Its primary task is training leaders and soldiers assigned to the 101st Airborne Division
(AASLT), other US Army units and US armed services in several courses annually.
School qualifies soldiers to conduct airmobile and air assault helicopter operations, to include aircraft orientation, slingload operations, proper rappelling techniques and fast-rope techniques. The school itself is 10 training days and requires a 12 miles (19.3 km) march with rucksack in order to graduate.
The original school is located at Fort Campbell, Kentucky
(home of the 101st Airborne Division
). There are also or have been schools at Fort Rucker, Alabama; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Fort Hood, Texas
; Camp Blanding, Florida; Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Drum, New York; Fort Ord, California, and elsewhere. Instructors at the course are referred to as Air Assault Sergeants. It is open to both males and females. The school is composed of learning helicopter
insertion techniques, rigorous training, and tedious packing lists; one missing item could cause the student to fail the school immediately.
Courses offered at the Air Assault School include: Air Assault, Pathfinder
, Pre-Ranger, Rappel Master and Fast Rope Insertion/Extraction (FRIES)/Special Purpose Insertion Extraction (SPIES) Master courses. TSAAS is also home to the Division's Parachute Demonstration Team.
The 101st Airborne Division, a parachute and glider-borne unit that conducted two jumps during World War II, was converted to an Airmobile unit in 1968 in Vietnam, becoming the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). The parenthetical designation changed to Air Assault in late 1974. The Airborne tab over the unit's Screaming Eagle shoulder patch does not imply that the soldier is Airborne (parachute) qualified. Also, while a Soldier in an Airborne unit must graduate Airborne School, graduation from the Air Assault School is not required to be a Soldier in the 101st.
In 1998, a new 34 feet (10.4 m) tower was completed and Phase Three began to train at this site. On December 17, 1999 the new Sabalauski Air Assault School facility was dedicated and for the first time in several years all phases of instruction are conducted at one facility. Over sixty classes are run annually, training over 8,000 soldiers per year.
.
After successful completion of the obstacle course, students will conduct a two-mile (3 km) run. Students must complete the run in under 18:00 to receive a "GO" in the event (meaning satisfactory completion of the event). The uniform for the run is Army Combat Uniform
(ACU - minus the ACU Top depending on the season in which the training cycle beings) with running shoes.
Soldiers are given two tests:
Students receive hands-on training on preparation, rigging, and inspection of several certified or suitable external loads. These may include the following loads:
The soldiers will also conduct an actual hook-up of a load underneath a CH-47 or UH-60 aircraft.
In this phase, soldiers are given two tests:
Soldiers will conduct two rappels on the wall side of the school's 34 feet (10.4 m) tower, 9 to 12 rappels from the open side, and two additional rappels from a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter hovering at 70-90 feet. All rappels are conducted with and without combat equipment. During fast rope familiarization, students conduct a controlled descent and a static hold for five seconds. Students that successfully conduct both descents from a 12 feet (3.7 m) platform then descend from the 34 feet (10.4 m) tower using the stack-out/rapid exit technique. Fast rope descents are conducted without combat equipment.
Soldiers are tested on:
Soldiers must pass all tests to move on to the next phase and are allowed one retest per exam.
Fort Campbell
Fort Campbell is a United States Army installation located astraddle the Kentucky-Tennessee border between Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Tennessee...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. Its primary task is training leaders and soldiers assigned to the 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division (United States)
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
(AASLT), other US Army units and US armed services in several courses annually.
Background
Air AssaultAir assault
Air assault is the movement of ground-based military forces by vertical take-off and landing aircraft—such as the helicopter—to seize and hold key terrain which has not been fully secured, and to directly engage enemy forces...
School qualifies soldiers to conduct airmobile and air assault helicopter operations, to include aircraft orientation, slingload operations, proper rappelling techniques and fast-rope techniques. The school itself is 10 training days and requires a 12 miles (19.3 km) march with rucksack in order to graduate.
The original school is located at Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Fort Campbell is a United States Army installation located astraddle the Kentucky-Tennessee border between Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Tennessee...
(home of the 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
). There are also or have been schools at Fort Rucker, Alabama; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Fort Hood, Texas
Fort Hood, Texas
Fort Hood is a United States military post located outside of Killeen, Texas. The post is named after Confederate General John Bell Hood. It islocated halfway between Austin and Waco, about from each, within the U.S. state of Texas....
; Camp Blanding, Florida; Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Drum, New York; Fort Ord, California, and elsewhere. Instructors at the course are referred to as Air Assault Sergeants. It is open to both males and females. The school is composed of learning helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
insertion techniques, rigorous training, and tedious packing lists; one missing item could cause the student to fail the school immediately.
Courses offered at the Air Assault School include: Air Assault, Pathfinder
Pathfinders (military)
A pathfinder is a paratrooper who is inserted or dropped into place in order to set up and operate drop zones, pickup zones, and helicopter landing sites for airborne operations, air resupply operations, or other air operations in support of the ground unit commander...
, Pre-Ranger, Rappel Master and Fast Rope Insertion/Extraction (FRIES)/Special Purpose Insertion Extraction (SPIES) Master courses. TSAAS is also home to the Division's Parachute Demonstration Team.
The 101st Airborne Division, a parachute and glider-borne unit that conducted two jumps during World War II, was converted to an Airmobile unit in 1968 in Vietnam, becoming the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). The parenthetical designation changed to Air Assault in late 1974. The Airborne tab over the unit's Screaming Eagle shoulder patch does not imply that the soldier is Airborne (parachute) qualified. Also, while a Soldier in an Airborne unit must graduate Airborne School, graduation from the Air Assault School is not required to be a Soldier in the 101st.
In 1998, a new 34 feet (10.4 m) tower was completed and Phase Three began to train at this site. On December 17, 1999 the new Sabalauski Air Assault School facility was dedicated and for the first time in several years all phases of instruction are conducted at one facility. Over sixty classes are run annually, training over 8,000 soldiers per year.
Training
Air Assault School is a 10 ½ day course that teaches air assault techniques and procedures, and qualifies soldiers to wear the Air Assault BadgeAir Assault Badge
The Air Assault Badge, pictured to the right, is awarded by the U.S. Army for successful completion of the Air Assault School, a two-week course. The course includes three phases of instruction involving U.S. Army rotary wing aircraft: combat air assault operations; rigging and slingload...
.
Zero Day
Soldiers are not considered “Air Assault Students” until after successful completion of Zero Day, the first day of the course, which requires students to complete an obstacle course, two-mile (3 km) run, and an inspection of equipment prior to continuing training.Inspection
This inspection is extremely meticulous. It is conducted as soon as the soldier enters school grounds. Soldiers must have all items on the packing list each student is given. All items must be clean and serviceable (in usable condition). If a soldier is missing any item during the inspection, that soldier will not be allowed to in-process.Obstacle course and two-mile run
The obstacle course is designed to assess a student’s upper body strength, agility, endurance, confidence, and ability to perform at heights without displaying fear or distress. This test is critical in determining if a student will be able to complete Air Assault School without becoming a safety risk to themselves, instructors, or other students during the tough and demanding training events conducted throughout the course.After successful completion of the obstacle course, students will conduct a two-mile (3 km) run. Students must complete the run in under 18:00 to receive a "GO" in the event (meaning satisfactory completion of the event). The uniform for the run is Army Combat Uniform
Army Combat Uniform
The Army Combat Uniform is the current combat uniform worn by the United States Army. It is the successor to the Battle Dress Uniform and Desert Camouflage Uniform worn during the 1980s and 1990s. It features a number of design changes, as well as a different camouflage pattern from its...
(ACU - minus the ACU Top depending on the season in which the training cycle beings) with running shoes.
Phase One - Combat Assault
Phase One, the Combat Assault Phase, is three days long. During this phase, soldiers receive instructions on the following tasks:- Aircraft Safety
- Aircraft Orientation – includes the familiarization of the characteristics and capabilities of Army aircraft
- Aero Medical Evacuation – includes the capabilities and request procedures for MEDEVAC aircraft
- Pathfinder Operations – HLZ selection, marking and operation for day and night missions involving multiple aircraft, to include sling loads
- Hand-and-arm signals - soldiers are taught 17 hand-and-arm signals used during sling load operations
- Close Combat Attacks - use of attack aviation in a close air support (CAS) role
- Combat Assault Operations – includes various factors encompassed in an air assault operation such as: components of an air assault mission, the reverse planning sequence, duties and responsibilities of platoon-level personnel during an air assault, static load training, and a simulated combat assault on UH-60 aircraft
Soldiers are given two tests:
- Written – The written test consists of 50 multiple-choice question. Soldiers must achieve 70 percent to receive a "GO" on the written test.
- Hands-on – Students are tested on 10 of 17 hand-and-arm signals and must correctly perform seven of the 10 to receive a "GO". Soldiers must pass both tests to move on to the Sling Load Phase. They are allowed one retest per exam.
Phase Two – Slingload Operations
Phase Two, Slingload Operations, is three days long. During the Sling Load Phase, soldiers receive instruction on various aspects of sling load operations. This includes:- Planning and preparation for sling load operations
- Capabilities, characteristics, and use of sling load equipment
- Duties and responsibilities of sling load personnel
- Familiarization with sling load theory and rigging of non-standard loads
Students receive hands-on training on preparation, rigging, and inspection of several certified or suitable external loads. These may include the following loads:
- M1097 HMMWV
- M1097 HMMWV, shotgun/side-by-side configuration
- M119 105mm Howitzer
- M149A2 Water Trailer
- A-22 Cargo Bag
- Fuel Blivets (one, two, three, or four blivit configuration)
- 5000 lb or 10,000 lb Cargo Net
The soldiers will also conduct an actual hook-up of a load underneath a CH-47 or UH-60 aircraft.
In this phase, soldiers are given two tests:
- Written – The written test consists of 50 multiple-choice question. Soldiers must achieve 70 percent to receive a "GO" on the written test.
- Hands-on – Students are tested on four of the six loads taught. Students must identify three out of four preparation and/or rigging deficiencies within two minutes per load to receive a "GO".
- Soldiers must pass both tests to move on to the next phase. They are allowed one retest per exam.
Phase Three – Rappelling Phase
Phase Three, the Rappelling Phase is three days long. During this phase, soldiers receive instruction on basic ground and aircraft rappelling procedures, to include the following tasks:- Tying of the hip-rappel seat (Swiss seat)
- Hook-up techniques
- Lock-in procedures
- Rappel with and without combat equipment
- Belay procedures
- Fast Rope familiarization
Soldiers will conduct two rappels on the wall side of the school's 34 feet (10.4 m) tower, 9 to 12 rappels from the open side, and two additional rappels from a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter hovering at 70-90 feet. All rappels are conducted with and without combat equipment. During fast rope familiarization, students conduct a controlled descent and a static hold for five seconds. Students that successfully conduct both descents from a 12 feet (3.7 m) platform then descend from the 34 feet (10.4 m) tower using the stack-out/rapid exit technique. Fast rope descents are conducted without combat equipment.
Soldiers are tested on:
- Tie the Hip rappel (Swiss) seat (the 90 second time limit has been reinstated)
- Hook-up to a rappel rope without deficiency (the 15 second time limit has been reinstated)
- Conduct three rappels: lock-in rappel, rappel without combat equipment (also known as a "Hollywood" rappel) with three controlled brakes, and combat equipment rappel with three controlled brakes
Soldiers must pass all tests to move on to the next phase and are allowed one retest per exam.
12-Mile Foot March
The final event is the 12 miles (19.3 km) foot march. Soldiers must complete the 12 miles (19.3 km) foot march with the prescribed uniform and equipment in three hours or less in order to graduate. The foot march is a graded task and a graduation requirement for Air Assault School.Graduation
- Graduates are awarded the Air Assault BadgeAir Assault BadgeThe Air Assault Badge, pictured to the right, is awarded by the U.S. Army for successful completion of the Air Assault School, a two-week course. The course includes three phases of instruction involving U.S. Army rotary wing aircraft: combat air assault operations; rigging and slingload...
and the 2B ASI (Additional Skill Identifier). - Graduates in the rank of Specialist (E-4) and above are qualified to inspect rigged sling loads.
- Graduates in the rank of Corporal (E-4) and above are qualified to perform as rappel lane NCOs for ground rappel training and are eligible to attend the Rappel Master Course.
- Graduates in the rank of Sergeant First Class (E-7) or above are qualified to serve as a rappel site Safety Officer for ground and aircraft rappelling.