thedrifter
02-23-08, 11:49 AM
Topsy-Turvy Training Prepares Marines to Handle Humvee Rollovers
Friday, Feb 22, 2008 - 06:35 PM
By Philip Jones
Eyewitness News 9
It goes without saying that the men and women who are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan face a number of threats on a daily basis.
Among the biggest -- IED attacks and vehicle rollovers. In response to those threats, Marines at Camp Lejeune are going through some topsy-turvy training that could end up saving their lives.
As they strapped in to what’s called the HEAT simulator Friday morning, the Marines were about to have their worlds turned upside down.
HEAT is short for “Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer,” -- a machine that simulates what could happen if a Humvee rolled over during combat, due to traffic accidents or IED attacks.
“If for any reason they were ever in a vehicle rollover, they could pull from this knowledge and use the teamwork that they built here in this simulator to egress from the vehicle safely,” said SSgt. Harvey Gunnels, the Master HEAT Instructor for II MEF.
The simulator rolls the hull of a Humvee a full 360 degrees.
Marines have to practice crawling out of a Humvee that's rolled on to its side or its roof -- and also prepare to pull an injured or unconscious colleague to safety.
“The system is real realistic,” Gunnels said. “It'll provide the Marine the experience of what it would be like to be rolled over.”
The HEAT training is now required for all Marines before they deploy to Iraq or Afghanistan. And while it's not exactly the ride of their lives, it is a ride that could end up saving their lives.
Sgt. Jairo Elias knows the value of this training first-hand. He was in a Humvee that rolled over in Iraq -- and he believes what the Marines learn through this simulator could easily mean the difference between life and death.
“We always want Marines ready and we always want them well-trained before we deploy to a combat environment,” Elias said. “And this is giving them good training for the Marines to do their jobs and take care of business” -- and to hopefully return home safely, as well.
The Marine Corps has been using these simulators for just over a year now.
Ellie
Friday, Feb 22, 2008 - 06:35 PM
By Philip Jones
Eyewitness News 9
It goes without saying that the men and women who are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan face a number of threats on a daily basis.
Among the biggest -- IED attacks and vehicle rollovers. In response to those threats, Marines at Camp Lejeune are going through some topsy-turvy training that could end up saving their lives.
As they strapped in to what’s called the HEAT simulator Friday morning, the Marines were about to have their worlds turned upside down.
HEAT is short for “Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer,” -- a machine that simulates what could happen if a Humvee rolled over during combat, due to traffic accidents or IED attacks.
“If for any reason they were ever in a vehicle rollover, they could pull from this knowledge and use the teamwork that they built here in this simulator to egress from the vehicle safely,” said SSgt. Harvey Gunnels, the Master HEAT Instructor for II MEF.
The simulator rolls the hull of a Humvee a full 360 degrees.
Marines have to practice crawling out of a Humvee that's rolled on to its side or its roof -- and also prepare to pull an injured or unconscious colleague to safety.
“The system is real realistic,” Gunnels said. “It'll provide the Marine the experience of what it would be like to be rolled over.”
The HEAT training is now required for all Marines before they deploy to Iraq or Afghanistan. And while it's not exactly the ride of their lives, it is a ride that could end up saving their lives.
Sgt. Jairo Elias knows the value of this training first-hand. He was in a Humvee that rolled over in Iraq -- and he believes what the Marines learn through this simulator could easily mean the difference between life and death.
“We always want Marines ready and we always want them well-trained before we deploy to a combat environment,” Elias said. “And this is giving them good training for the Marines to do their jobs and take care of business” -- and to hopefully return home safely, as well.
The Marine Corps has been using these simulators for just over a year now.
Ellie