CAMP HUMPHREYS, REPUBLIC OF KOREA -- Soldiers assigned to the 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, and the 123rd Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd ABCT, 1st AD, conducted a combined training event in which 4-6 Inf. Regt. began an Air Assault mission and 123rd BSB performed sling load operations Jan. 7, on Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea.

Soldiers from the 123rd BSB sling loaded an armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle and three connexes during their sling load operations.

The importance of sling load operations is to resupply units in a more efficient manner rather than utilizing ground units, said Staff Sgt. Deshawn Tisdale, the Brigade Aviation Element noncommissioned officer in charge, 3rd ABCT, 1st AD.

Soldiers from the 123rd BSB positioned nylon ropes on the equipment in advance to the CH-47 Chinook helicopters arriving. Two pieces of equipment were sling loaded at a time to maximize time and efficiency. This allowed the Soldiers to safely and efficiently achieve mission success.

Before the mission began, 1st Lt. Brett Harris, platoon leader, Transportation, Fuel and Water, 123rd BSB, 3rd ABCT, 1st AD, checked over the equipment and vehicles for safety. Once the Chinook came into sight, the Soldiers moved tactically into position and stood by, ready to execute the mission.

Four Chinooks were used during the sling load operations. They hovered over the vehicles and equipment while a group of five Soldiers attached nylon ropes to the front and back of the helicopter.

After achieving a secure hook up with the nylon ropes, the Soldiers would tactically move to the next piece of equipment to be loaded, and repeated the process. Training with both equipment and vehicles allowed Soldiers to hone their skills necessary for any mission ahead.

Once the Chinooks finished sling loading, they flew off to next landing zone where the equipment and vehicles were unloaded. The combined training that happened between the 4-6 Inf. Regt. and the 123rd BSB created better unit cohesion that will help achieve mission success for future training exercises.