United States Army Air Assault School

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United States Army Air Assault School
(Sabalauski Air Assault School)
Air Assault Training at Camp Edwards, Mass. DVIDS202802.jpg
US Army Air Assault School rappel training
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
BranchFlag of the United States Army.svg  United States Army
Type Military training
RoleSpecial skills training
Garrison/HQFort Campbell, Kentucky
Nickname(s)The Ten Toughest Days in the Army
PatronWalter James Sabalauski
Insignia
Headgear worn by special skills instructors, known as "Black Hats"
Black Hat at US Army Air Assault School.jpg
Air Assault Badge awarded at graduation
AirAssault.gif

The United States Army Air Assault School (officially, the Sabalauski Air Assault School, or TSAAS), is an Army Forces Command Table of Distribution and Allowances unit located at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Its primary task is training leaders and soldiers assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (AASLT), other United States Army units, and United States Armed Forces service members. The school is named for Command Sergeant Major Walter James Sabalauski.

Contents

The school offers several courses, including Air Assault, Pathfinder, Pre-Ranger, Rappel Master, and Fast Rope Insertion Extraction System (FRIES)/Special Purpose Insertion Extraction (SPIES) Master courses. The school is also home to the Division's Parachute Demonstration Team. More than 8,000 soldiers are trained during more than 60 courses per year.[ citation needed ]

Air Assault School

The best-known course offered at TSAAS is Air Assault School, which qualifies soldiers to conduct airmobile and air assault helicopter operations, including aircraft orientation; helicopter insertion; pathfinder operations; sling load operations; rappelling from buildings, cliffs and helicopters; and fast-rope techniques.

The Air Assault School course is offered several times per year, taught by instructors referred to as Air Assault Sergeants. Open to men and women, the rigorous, fast-paced training is known as the 10 (or 11 [1] ) toughest days [2] in the Army. About 15 percent of the class does not make it through the first day, dubbed Zero day, which includes a demanding obstacle course. [3] More fail to make it past sling load testing in phase two. [1] Ultimately, only about 45 percent pass. [2]

On the morning of graduation, students must complete a 19.3 km (12-mile) march with rucksack in under three hours before receiving their wings. Completion qualifies soldiers to wear the Air Assault Badge. [4]

Training

Graduation

History

The original Air Assault School is located at Fort Campbell, home of the 101st Airborne Division. There are also or have been schools at:

Graduation from the Air Assault School is not required to be a soldier in the 101st, but it is looked upon as an achievement of excellence by the chain of command.

In 1998, Fort Campbell built a 34-foot (10 m) tower for use in Phase Three.

On 17 December 1999, the new Sabalauski Air Assault School facility was dedicated and for the first time in several years all phases of instruction were conducted at one facility.

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Hit the right marks in Air Assault School". United States Army. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  2. 1 2 "CNN.com – Transcripts". transcripts.cnn.com. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  3. "Air Assault School". Archived from the original on 7 December 2001.
  4. "SAAS course descriptions". Archived from the original on 31 December 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2008.