Guardsmen prepare for worst case scenario in Humvees

FORT MCCOY, Wis. - Army Sgt. David Alvstad, of Aurora, Mo., and member of Company A, opens the only opening door on the humvee and crawls through the opening. He then extracted the front passenger who was a causality when the simulated improvised explosive device hit their humvee. (Photo by Rachel Knight/Missouri National Guard)

Guardsmen prepare for worst case scenario in Humvees

FORT MCCOY, Wis. - (Left) Army Private 1st Class George Pavlak, of Aurora, Mo., and Company A of 935th Aviation Support Battalion, and (right) Spc. Joshua Deaton, of Vienna, Mo., and Detachment 3 of Company B of 935th battalion, help Sgt. 1st Class Dirk Hodkins, of Warrensburg, Mo., and Detachment 3 of Company B of 935th battalion, from the 180-degree humvee rollover. (Photo by Rachel Knight/Missouri National Guard)

Guardsmen prepare for worst case scenario in Humvees

FORT MCCOY, Wis. - Army Sgt. 1st Class Leo McLerath, of Cape Girardeau, Mo., and Company A of 935th Aviation Support Battalion, found the only door to the humvee that would open after a 180-degree simulated humvee rollover. He helps the unconscious Soldier who was the driver out of the humvee. (Photo by Rachel Knight/Missouri National Guard)

Guardsmen prepare for worst case scenario in Humvees

FORT MCCOY, Wis. - Army Spc. Randy Endsley, of Kansas City, Kan., and headquarters company of the 1/135th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, helps leg-injured Army Sgt. Ryan McGuire, of Warrensburg, Mo., and 35th Combat Aviation Brigade, out of the 90-degree rolled over humvee while exercise instructor Army Sgt. Kris Smith, of Aurora and Company A of 935th Aviation Support Battalion, lends them advice on the egressing process. (Photo by Rachel Knight/Missouri National Guard)

Guardsmen prepare for worst case scenario in Humvees

Published June 29, 2009
By Rachel Knight
Missouri National Guard

FORT MCCOY, Wis. -- Be prepared for the worst.

That's what Missouri National Guardsmen from the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade's 1/135th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion and 935th Aviation Support Battalion learned when they stepped into the Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer.

"This exercise is to train you in the process of getting out if a rollover happens," said instructor Sgt. Kris Smith.

Whether deployed overseas or on a stateside emergency mission, Guardsmen routinely use Humvees for their missions. Although the vehicles are stable on the roughest terrain, rollovers are still a possibility. Army Spc. Jason Snyder, of Marionville, Mo., said that an up-armored Humvee will roll over at a 25-degree angle and a regular Humvee will rollover at 30 degrees.

During the training exercise, Soldiers learned how to evacuate a rolled-over Humvee safely. The exercise had five scenarios, including getting out of a turret when the Humvee is rolled over on its side and evacuating a Humvee that has rolled completely upside down.

Other scenarios teach Soldiers to assess situations before, while and after the fact. One scenario involves a 90-degree rollover that results in one wounded Solder. Other Soldiers have to help or extract their comrades from the Humvee through the turret.

Perhaps the most difficult scenario isa 180-degree turnover with injuries involving one individual to three individuals.

While quick evacuations are key to surviving in combat or an emergency, there is one important lesson Soldiers can use in their everyday lives.

"It taught me the importance of wearing a seatbelt," said Army Spc. Louis Reidl, of Hughesville, Mo., and member of 35th Combat Aviation Brigade.

Specialist Reidl said he would definitely recommend the training to other Soldiers because "you never know what is going to happen and where it's going to happen."

Army Capt. David Richards, of Fair Grove, Mo., and commander of Company A of the 935th Aviation Support Battalion, went through the exercise and decided his Soldiers needed the training.

Later that day, he brought about 20 Soldiers over for the knowledge the exercise brings to a Soldier as well as the promotion of teamwork.

Units that participated in the exercise were the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade in Sedalia; 1/135th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion at Whiteman Air Force Base and Clinton; the 3-135th Theater Aviation Battalion in Lebanon; and 935th Aviation Support Battalion in the Missouri cities of Springfield, Aurora, Warrensburg and Carrollton.

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-888-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.