My SF Mountain Sustainment Training
By Sgt. 1st Class Tony Sailer, 122nd Public Affairs Operations Center - Posted Dec, 2007
I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I agreed to be a test subject for the Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Mountain Sustainment Skills Course during my Annual Training this June. I was in average physical fitness, knew how to tie a few knots, and was not too afraid of heights; but there would be so much more to this Annual Training than clove hitches and ruck marches.
My journey began with day one orientation, gear issue and a trip out to the rock. The class instructor, Master Sgt. Jeff Conti, Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge of the Mountain Sustainment training and Alpha Company’s Operational Detachment Bravo, took us through basic rope management, climbing equipment familiarization, knot tying, and then introduced us to the rock.
I was a little apprehensive about joining this group for training but right from the start, I was made to feel a part of the unit, not just a visitor. I was determined to learn all I could about rock climbing, mountain survival and alpine traversing from these guys and I was able get fully invested into the training without worrying about fitting in.
The teams I trained with were Operational Detachments Alpha and Bravo from Alpha Company, 1st of the 19th Special Forces Group headquartered in Buckley, Wa. Their members are competent mountaineers, fully capable of deploying to and operating in heavily mountainous regions such as Afghanistan. They could also be called upon to assist in a search and rescue if an aircraft crashed in one of our region’s mountain ranges.
The most difficult challenge I faced was getting used to hanging from a small metal anchor I had placed in a crack in the wall just moments before. The only thing between me and a painful fall were devices known as “protection” or “friends”. I soon learned how to “place pro” and clip my rope to it quickly so my climbing partner, Staff Sgt. James Wolfe, an assistant instructor from ODB, 1st/19th SFG, could take slack out of the rope and support my weight for a short rest. Then it was up a few more feet to the next anchor spot.
As a neophyte climber, I was expected to learn follow climbing, lead climbing and rescue techniques. I also became familiar with weather observation, mountain hazards and rope suspension traverses. One of the more complicated skills taught to me was the vertical haul system where ropes and pulleys are used to bring heavy equipment up and down a shear rock face. In the event numerous Soldiers need to ascend a cliff, they would be able to raise their personal gear, ammo, crew serve weapons and other heavy items up on this system leaving them unencumbered for their own ascent.
Each lesson built on the knowledge of the previous and at the end of the course I was able to participate in a two-day combat scenario. The skills I had learned were tested by Conti and the ODB crew and I successfully completed the course. “My hope for this program is to demonstrate our ability to train non-SF, non-climbers to be competent mountain soldiers,” Conti said. “If we can provide that, then we, as ‘quiet professionals’, can give something back to the Washington National Guard.”
All in all, the scrapes, blisters and sore muscles were all worth the opportunity to train with the SF and earn a USASOC Level 3 climbers rating. I am glad I have the skills to be an effective mountain troop (and sport rock climbing will be a hobby of mine as well).
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