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n a maritime survival situation, confidence in the water is crucial. In what proved to be the most challenging event, teams had to move a 200-pound dummy underwater for 200 meters. Not only was strength and lung capacity key in the successful completion of the event, but also the team’s ability to work together was strained by varying levels of water confidence.
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was deceptively simple, but, with a broad set of rules, it allowed teams to develop different strategies to complete each skill. A small cadre of FRS Instructors from HSM-41 and HSC-3 spent approximately 50 hours each developing, preparing, and running the events, ensuring that common skills between the communities would be tested and that the most well rounded Aircrews would end up on top. The events represented the diverse skill sets naval rotary wing aircrews are using to accomplish missions in a variety of combat and non-combat missions. The competitor’s ability to move relief supplies through rough terrain in support of Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief (HA/DR) missions was tested utilizing an obstacle course on the beach with sand bags simulating relief supplies. The MEDEVAC scenario tested each team’s ability to triage, treat, package, and transport multiple survivors over a 500-meter course through sand dunes utilizing litters and buddy carries. Recovering ropes into the aircraft is required for multiple mission areas and that was put to the test with each team during the run of an
obstacle course. The course thoroughly tasked their cardiovascular system and ended with pulling three FAST Ropes up a 40-foot tower. Operating in the maritime environment is the primary competency that sets us apart from our sister Services. In a maritime survival situation, confidence in the water is crucial. In what proved to be the most challenging event, teams had to move a 200-pound dummy underwater for 200 meters. Not only was strength and lung capacity key in the successful completion of the event, but also the team’s ability to work together was strained by varying levels of water confidence. Many teams found themselves more concerned with surviving the challenge than completing it. Ultimately three teams were disqualified for failing to move the 200 meters in a 15-minute time limit; many others were just trying to not have the safety swimmer pull them out of the pool. New to the competition was the use of the Aircrew Virtual Environment
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Trainer (AVET), the first full emersion virtual reality simulator designed for H-60 F/H/S Aircrewmen use. The AVET, which can be used for training in all no- sensor mission areas, was used to evaluate each team’s aerial gunnery proficiency. Teams were evaluated on their ability to identify, prioritize, engage, and destroy targets using M-240 machine guns in a specially developed littoral environment scenario with ground targets and small boat threats. Teams of four were split in half, two members served as gunners and the other two served as pilots at the instructor station. Not only were teams’ aerial gunnery abilities challenged, but also their CRM skills by the “pilots” talking gunners onto the targets and relaying aircraft, weapons, and scoring information to them. With the large turnout of teams, the West Coast squadrons were well represented including many squadrons that sent multiple teams. A diverse group of Aircrewmen and pilots gave a good cross section of Aircrews. There were teams composed of all Fleet Continue on page 63