Humvee simulator teaches Airmen valuable driving techniques

  • Published
  • By DJ Babbitt
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Operating a Humvee isn't as simple as driving a car, but a unique simulator at Kirtland helps make it easier and safer.

Kirtland is a large base with many miles of rugged terrain for security forces to patrol. To help with these patrols, the 377th Security Forces Group owns 22 Humvees, one of the largest fleets in the Air Force. Having such a large fleet brings with it risks, including the potential for rollovers.

"We were having fierce issues with our forces rolling Humvees," said Christopher Batta, 377th SFG director of training. "One Airman was ejected and landed in the dirt, demonstrating to the commander our need for training."

To minimize the risk of rollover accidents, as well as prepare troops for operating the specialized vehicles in forward locations, Kirtland became the first Air Force base to acquire a Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer, or HEAT.

HEAT is a Humvee training simulator that helps teach driving techniques and procedures to avoid rollovers and preserve equipment. The trainer can rotate 360
degrees in any direction, simulating a rollover to help crewmembers learn to successfully egress from a rolled Humvee.

"Knowing what actions to take before, during or after a rollover is vital to the safety of a vehicle's crew," Batta said. "One door can weigh up to 200 pounds, and when the simulator is rotated 90 degrees, getting out is very difficult."

Before 2013, 377th SFG Airmen were driving to and from Santa Fe to train on the Army National Guard's HEAT simulator. Arranging for transportation to Santa Fe meant not all of the students in a class could attend the training at one time. Also, availability for training was heavily dependent on weather and road conditions.

After three years of driving elsewhere for the training, Air Force Materiel Command asked if there were any specific requirements units had. Batta presented a need for a simulator at Kirtland. AFMC officials looked at savings of time and money and approved the request; in 2013, the HEAT simulator arrived at the group.

Since January, SFG has trained three classes of roughly 100 students, with a goal to train all 650 Airmen in the group.

Airman First Class Eleazar Cano who went through the training in April said, "This is the best thing I've done in the military so far."

"Since we started training, not one real-world incident has happened," Batta said.

While the HEAT is used primarily by security forces, the training is not just for defenders.

"We're working with the Logistics Readiness Squadron right now to get some of their folks trained. Really, this training is available to everyone who needs it," Batta said.