Exercise Includes Eye-Popping Fast-Rope Maneuvers
Sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 11
Det. 9, currently deployed with USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), took to
the clouds Valentine’s Day to perform several rappelling and
fast rope exercises atop the mighty warship’s flight
deck.
Depending on the flight schedule, the eight-man EOD team
performs at least one fast rope/rappel drill per month, and
according to Vinson’s EOD Leading Chief Petty Officer, Chief
Aviation Ordnanceman (EOD) Kevin Borkowski, his team is at the
highest readiness level.
“We train constantly to maintain our proficiency in areas
such as quick insertion via fast rope or rappel, which are commonly
used in scenarios where there are no other means to access the area
or when the maneuver is deemed necessary,” he said.
“Presently, we stand ready to engage any situation that may
arise.”
Staying ready involves keeping a fine eye to safety during every
stage of helicopter rope suspension training (HRST) evolutions,
such as fast roping and rappelling, said EOD Officer in Charge Lt.
Evan Colbert.
“We have two pre-flight briefs before we engage in HRST
operations,” said Colbert, “one with the pilots and air
crew that covers the overall concept of the operation from their
perspective. Then we have another brief with just members from the
team, which covers what equipment we are going to use, the
different hand signals and other safety points more specific to
just EOD.”
While airborne, there are three key people commands must run
through before an EOD technician performs any step of the
operation: the pilot, the air crew chief and the EOD HRST
master.
“The air crew chief gets permission from the pilot to tell
the HRST master to deploy the rope,” said Colbert. "Once the
rope is deployed, the air crew chief will again look to the pilot
for approval before giving a ‘thumbs up’ to the HRST
master to go ahead and deploy the Sailor. This process continues
until we are done, or we are told to stop by the pilot.”
Standard equipment for both the rappelling and fast roping
portions of the drill include helmets, kneepads, leather gloves and
sunglasses.
When rappelling, the EOD team will use a waist harness attached
to a 120-foot static line and other pieces of equipment used to
help the technician control their speed while descending. However,
fast roping, according to Colbert, is a different story.
“When fast roping, you use a 90-foot, two-inch braided
rope, and the tempo is much quicker with everything controlled by
friction,” he said. “There are no ulterior safety
devices. My guys could be carrying up to 50 pounds of gear, and if
they can’t hang on, then it’s over. This makes
communication between the pilots, crew chief and HRST master very
important, and Sailors performing the exercise must stay
alert.”
With several years of experience tucked under Colbert and
Borkowski’s combat vests, their team’s evolution went
well. However, forward progression is always a constant goal for
self-motivated people.
“As with any operation, there are always points we hit to
go over to better increase our proficiency, but overall, it was a
safe and successful training exercise.”
The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is currently on deployment
in the Western Pacific. The strike group is on a six-month
deployment to promote peace and stability, and respond to emergent
events overseas. Carl Vinson will end its deployment with a
homeport shift to Norfolk, VA. in support of a three-year refuel
and complex overhaul.
(ANN salutes Journalist 3rd Class (SW) Chris Fahey, USS Carl
Vinson Public Affairs)