Airmen train with Humvee simulator

  • Published
  • By Capt. Toni J. Tones
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFPN) --  Rollover, rollover, rollover!!! Egress, egress, egress!!!

These words were constantly echoed to a group of 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Airmen during the Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer training here Jan. 25. The training, conducted by 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, consisted of 45 minutes of classroom discussion and a three-phase simulator exercise.

"We want to familiarize members with rollover procedures and give them the techniques to survive," said Staff Sgt. Michael DeJesus, 455th ESFS NCO in charge of physical security. "They're building muscle memory -- repeating small simple steps that could one day save their life or the guy next to them."

Crawl, walk, run is how Sergeant DeJesus describes the simulator training. Airmen start off with a slight roll -- about 30 degrees -- to give them a reference point of what is about to happen. They go into half-rolls landing on top of the M114 trainer and several full rollovers. The final scenario is several rolls left and right in a nighttime setting.

Disorientation was the unanimous phrase used by the participants to describe what is was like inside the humvee. 

"But I will say that I'm better prepared after this training, if I'm involved in an incident like this," said Airman 1st Class Matthew Terkay, 455th ESFS force protection escort.

"These scenarios give convoy members the opportunity to practice their skills and work together as a team," said Sergeant DeJesus. "Teamwork and communication is paramount. If you're not talking or being a good wingman, you're dead. That initial blast is not the end; once the members egress from the vehicle they have to be ready for the fight."

The training is an Air Force-wide initiative and available to anyone, regardless of service. There have been countless stories from the battlefield saying that the training has saved lives.

"That's where my job satisfaction comes from...saving lives," said Sergeant DeJesus, who was involved in a humvee rollover during a combat tour in Iraq. "Saving your buddy or the guy next to you is what it's all about."

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