This is available at a number of installations, but the largest
is located at the air assault home of Ft. Campbell, Kentucky.
Another popular location for this school is at East Range Schofield
Barracks, Hawaii. This eleven day course is very demanding both
physically and mentally, involving obstacle courses and several
long ruck marches.
The Air Assault program is divided into three phases.
Phase one is the Combat assault phase. Here, students will
learn aircraft safety and orientation. They will learn how to
conduct an Aero medical evacuation. Pathfinder and combat assault
operation is also taught.
Phase two is the sling load phase. Students learn how to sling
load a HMMWV two ways, a 105mm Howitzer, a LMTV, fuel blivets
and a cargo net.
Phase three is the rappelling phase. Students start with
the basics such as how to make a swiss seat, how to hook-up, lock-in,
combat rappel and belay procedures. Then comes the fun part. students
conduct 2 rappels from a 34 foot tower. 9-12 rappels on an open
tower, i.e. no wall, and then conduct 2 rappels from a UH-60 Blackhawk
helicopter, once without a combat load, and once with a combat
load. Students must also complete a 12 mile road march in under
3 hours,with a combat load to earn the Air Assault wings
