CSSG-3 hangs out over MCB Hawaii

[thedrifter]

CSSG-3 hangs out over MCB Hawaii
Submitted by: MCB Hawaii
Story Identification Number: 2003922145945
Story by Lance Cpl. Monroe F. Seigle



MCB HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii(September 12, 2003) -- "Once you are up there on the rope, you are not getting off it until we get you down," barked Staff Sgt. Jason Jerome, staff non-commissioned officer in charge of the Helicopter, Ropes, and Suspension Training Course aboard MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay.
The Marines from CSSG-3 who were present to hear those pleasant greetings from Jerome were eager to hang out over the skies above MCB Hawaii.
They were about to learn the basics of special patrol, insertion and extraction techniques.
"This was an awesome insertion and extraction exercise," said Sgt. Keith Miller, after he was able to fly over Kaneohe Bay while dangling from a rope and harness attached to a CH53-D "Sea Stallion" helicopter. "The Marines will use this type of training when the canopy below is too dense to get the bird on the ground. All the junior Marines there had not done this before and they were all motivated to get in the air."
Before lifting off the flight line on base, the Marines from CSSG-3 were instructed by Jerome on the proper way to secure themselves to a harness and how to communicate to the pilots while in the air with the use of hand signals.
Once 10 of the Marines were motivated and strapped into their harnesses, they secured themselves to an outstretched rope and lifted up in the air.
As the Marines from CSSG-3 spent the day getting several opportunities to fly around the bay, several grunts who were in the final phase of the HRST school demonstrated how to load and unload troops who had no idea how to SPIE rig or properly load and unload from the chopper.
While they were checking the straps and walking the Marines from CSSG-3 through the steps, they were being graded by the instructors on their proficiency.
"This training has a lot of tactical benefits," said Jerome. "All Marines might find themselves one day in a situation where they will need to know these techniques and find themselves being dropped into a combat zone. This is just another tool available for them when a situation arises in combat."



Marines from Combat Service Support Group 3 were all to eager to lift above the waters in the Kaneohe Bay for a chance to learn the basics of SPIE rigging while overlooking MCB Hawaii.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Monroe F. Seigle

Sempers,

Roger