I just finished my first week of the six week ALSE (Aviation Life Support Equipment) class. The higher-ups at Fort Campbell must have decided that they needed more people trained in this area so I was assigned the class. ALSE is comprised of all the equipment an aviator needs to survive during flight, an unanticipated landing, and an extended stay on the ground or in the water. This includes oxygen masks, helmets, night vision goggles, life rafts, emergency scuba bottles, survival kits, survival vests, etc. The intent of the course is to teach the students how to care for, distribute, use, and repair all of this equipment.
The first two weeks is primarily focused on teaching us how to sew with industrial machines so that we can repair and fabricate survival equipment. Our practical exercise is to build a tool bag. I am in the process of building a very ugly bag. It is going to have some crazy stiching and some very misaligned grommets, seams, zippers, and buttons. Nonetheless, I am improving my previously non-existant sewing skills.
I am attaching a photo of the class. In the forground you will see my friend and classmate, a former Ranger (note the tab on his shoulder). He earned his combat jump wings and combat infantry badge in iraq before signing up for flight school. You can probably imagine how he feels having gone from hardcore infantryman to seamstress.