According to the Combat Readiness Center, there have been nearly 300 Humvee rollover accidents resulting in 110 Soldier fatalities and numerous injuries in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
Soldiers of the 1/354th, 1st Brigade, 95th Training Division (IET) recently learned how to react to a vehicle rollover during Humvee Egress Assistance Training (HEAT) at Camp Gruber, Okla. The HEAT training, held in triple-digit temperatures in July, was done in conjunction with the unit’s annual weapons qualification range. For many Soldiers of the unit, it was their first encounter with the training system.
HEAT came into existence in 2005 after several Soldiers were injured or died after rollover accidents. Because it would be impractical and unsafe to roll an actual vehicle for training purposes, the HEAT was designed as a mechanism to allow Soldiers to experience the effects of a roll without the dangers. |
Spc. John Holloway of the 1/354th, 1st Brigade, 95th Training Division (IET) safely exits the inverted Humvee during HEAT at Camp Gruber, Okla. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Chris Jackson, 95th Div. (IET).
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There are three main types of rollovers: fall-, maneuver- and impact-initiated. Fall-initiated rollovers generally happen when the road surface gives way, such as a bridge collapse or erosion of roadway. Maneuver-initiated rollovers usually occur due to driver error. Drivers may be going too fast for road conditions, over-correct and cause the wheels to leave the roadway. Impact-initiated rollovers result when the vehicle is hit by another vehicle or strikes an object, causing it to invert.
The HEAT device consists of the passenger compartment of an up-armored Humvee mounted on a rack with hydraulic arms. Soldiers ride in the system to simulate normal travel. The HEAT operator controls the spin and has the ability to roll the vehicle 360 degrees. This gives Soldiers the opportunity to feel what it’s like to be inverted at several different angles.
If a Soldier has never experienced a vehicle rollover, he may not realize that when the vehicle comes to a rest upside down, his weight against the seatbelt can make it difficult to unlatch. If the Soldier is able to unlatch the belt, he may fall toward the roof of the inverted vehicle which can result in injury. Add to this the confusion and disorientation that can occur during a rollover and it can be a deadly combination if the Humvee is on fire or submerged in water.
The training is focused on saving lives by making Soldiers aware of the conditions and giving them skills to react appropriately. An important function of the HEAT is to allow Soldiers to feel the awkwardness of doing things from an inverted position, like bracing themselves upside down so they can safely unlatch the seatbelt or operate the combat locks on the Humvee doors. Many Soldiers say that the skills they learn in HEAT training are useful not only in a tactical environment but also in every day civilian driving.
HEAT is now required for all Soldiers prior to deployment into a designated combat zone in Iraq or Afghanistan. There are several HEAT devices throughout the Army right now and another 136 to be fielded by next year.
Sgt. 1st Class Chris Jackson operates the HEAT during training by the 1/354th, 1st Brigade, 95th Training Division (IET) at Camp Gruber, Okla. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Chris Jackson, 95th Div. (IET).
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