Training Saves Lives Of Soldiers
March 1, 2007
Prior to deploying into the combat zones, soldiers receive training in rollover drills and situational awareness training. That training paid off in a big way for 3 soldiers attached to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 136th Infantry Battalion, 34th Brigade Combat Team of the Minnesota National Guard. The soldiers were able to put this training to the test in a real life situation in Iraq recently, when the bridge they were crossing gave away.
When the road started to break away, causing us to slide into the canal, I yelled over the intercom system that we were sliding,” said Spc Joseph Ness, the driver of the vehicle. “Spc Hoiland then yelled ‘rollover.’”
“We slid in and tipped upside down,” said Hoiland, gunner. “The BFV hit the bottom and water filled the turret.”
The soldiers quickly reacted, remembering the training they had received. One soldier, SSG Logan Wallace found himself face first in mud and was struggling to extract himself from the vechile, but found that his body armor was catching on something. Because of the quick thinking of his fellow soldiers, they were able to pull him safely from the vehicle.
“The soldiers new the TTPs and proceedures that helped save their lives,” said Major Michael Murray, battalion safety offier. “By placing the turret in the 12 o’clock position, part of the training and preparation to cross canals, it allows the soldiers to get the door open. Otherwise it could be blocked. Additinally, the crew conducted their rollover drill as the vehicle entered the water. That is training saving lives.”
Training and proper execution of their TTPs proceedures that they were trained on, also had the soldiers securing all of their equipment as part of their pre-combat checks. The Company B Commander, Captain Chip Rankin stressed that rehearsing the proceedures during training is as important as the mission itself, as it teaches the soldiers what they should do in emergency situations.
This goes to show just how very important proper training for missions is to the survival of our deployed troops. Without this training prior to their deployment, these soldiers very easily could have lost their lives. Fortunately the soldiers remembered their training and executed the steps correctly. Since implementation of the training, Army statistics show a significant in rollover related fatalities in the combat zone, with an 82% reduction in the rollover related drowning fatalities between 2005 and 2006.
[UPDATE]Eric from Eric In Iraq stopped by and left a message in the comment section with a link to his blog that has some more pictures from this story. Please stop by there and check them out. I am SO grateful these soldiers are all alive due to the training they received. Thanks for shaing the link Eric!
Eric In Iraq
Comments
9 Responses to “Training Saves Lives Of Soldiers”
Got something to say?
Here are some more pictures that go with this story:
http://ericiniraq.blogspot.com/2007/03/new-bravo-company-story.html
Thanks for sharing those Eric.
Great story Terri. I’ve noticed this in my own Army career. The Army has a tendency to really hammer points home, training on one task over and over. While doing the training, it gets very repetitive and you can’t wait for it to end. Later on down the road you notice that training paying off, you react to certain situations with almost no thought. This boring, repetitive training has built responses into you that are almost as natural as a reflex.
Most definitely. That’s the idea behind the repetition. We did the same thing when I worked in EMS.
Thanks for sharing the pics Eric. All I can say is Wow! Those were some lucky soldiers. I’m so glad that training paid off and saved their lives!
Spc Ness’s first name is Joseph, not Ray.
Thanks for that info. The info in the post was taken directly from the Army.mil article.
Just thought I’d let ya know =)
I appreciate that. I rechecked the article at Army.mil and it still states Ray as his first name. Thanks again!