Fort Carson Mountaineer

‘Steel Warriors’ sling load ammo

By Jeanne Mazerall

Posted on July 11, 2013

Photo by Sgt. Jessica Parker. Chief Warrant Officers 2 Kekila Keuma and Alex Muksunov, pilots with Company B, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, maneuver a CH-47 Chinook into position to attach the awaiting 450-pound crate of ammunition that Sgt. Taylor Bruce, left, gunner, Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., prepared for pickup, June 20.

By Sgt. Jessica Parker

4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division

Soldiers from Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, demonstrated their proficiency in sling load operations on Fort Carson, June 20.

Working in conjunction with a CH-47 Chinook flight team from Company B, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Inf. Div., “Steel Warriors” Soldiers prepared ammunition loads for pickup and drop off.

The importance of this sling load training was “to exercise the skills learned during (Sling Load Inspectors Certification Course) in support of the platoon-level live-fire exercise,” said 1st Sgt. Stephen Lavigne, the Battery B top enlisted Soldier.

Sgt. Taylor Bruce, gunner, Battery B, 2nd Bn., 77th FA Reg., was the Soldier on the ground who hooked the 450-pound crate of ammunition to the helicopter, while buffeted by high winds and clouds of dirt, as Sgt. John Watkins, ammunition team chief, Battery B, guided the CH-47 to its target. Both sergeants are certified in the SLICC.

The sling load training was a part of a weeklong field exercise including a platoon-sized element live-fire exercise.