As I mentioned in a previous post, Dunker AKA HOST (Helicopter Over water Survival Training), can be completed during BOLC/WOBC or after. I attended Dunker during BOLC. Dunker is a 1 day long course that teaches you how to egress a helicopter in the event that you ever end up in the water. The training is pretty good, and the devices they use are pretty good as well. I was really worried that I would drown (seriously!), and so I asked if anyone had ever died during training. They told me that 1 person had died, but it was because they had a heart attack or something. They didn't drown. That was reassuring to me I guess. I consider myself to be an average swimmer, but I can't hold my breath very long, and I DO NOT like being upside down under water. But, I passed it and it wasn't really that bad.I arrived to Dunker at 0530 or so with a copy of my upslip (approved flight physical) and an extra set of ACU's including boots. Since you will be in full uniform if you ever end up underwater in a helicopter, obviously the training is the same. I got a ALSE vest and flight helmet and was told to shower and suit up for training.
The very first thing that we had to do was a swim and float test. There are 2 approved strokes that you can use, the breast stroke and the side stroke, to complete one lap around the pool. I used the side stroke and it wasn't too bad. It was weird swimming with boots and a full uniform on, but the helmet has foam in it so it's actually buoyant. After that we had to go to the deep end and tread water for 2 minutes, and then float for 2 minutes. I found that the less movements you make, the better. During the float portion of the test, you have to float without moving either on your back or your stomach. A lot of people had trouble with this portion. The nice thing about Dunker is that you can do the course as many times as it takes to pass.
After everybody passed the swim test, and they sent home those who didn't (so they could come back the next day), we started training. First up was an open metal frame with a chair and seatbelts inside of it. First we had to escape, just the chair after being flipped upside down by an instructor. Then they added a door and we had to jettison the door and then escape. The worst part is getting water in your nasal cavity. The first time or two upside down was the worst. After that it didn't really bother me as much.
Once they signed us off on that, we were progressed to the actual training device (I don't know what it's called.) The device has sections for a UH-60 cockpit, OH-58 cockpit and CH-47 cockpit. If I remember correctly, we had to do 3 or 4 iterations, so we experience each cockpit. They are all a little different in terms of seatbelt design and jettison procedures for the door. The first one I did was the OH-58. The first time, I just had to unbuckle my seatbelt and jettison and exit the door. It took me 3 tries to do it correctly. I freaked out the first few times.What happens is they get you all strapped in, and then they raise the thing up in the air to get it ready. They yell, "ditching, ditching, ditching" and lower the device into the water. Once it hits the water, it rolls 180 degrees so you are upside down. Whether it rolls right or left is different every time, so you can't really prepare for that part. Our instructions were to wait until all movement stops before we start our egress. Then we located the emergency release handle, jettisoned the door, and unstrapped our seatbelt before exiting the device.
After you pass the first time, you have to do it blindfolded. I did it with my eyes closed anyway, so it wasn't too different. The hardest part was when they make you do cross-cockpit egress blindfolded. For this, you have to unstrap, work your way over to the other side of the cockpit, jettison the door and exit. It took me 3 times to get this one right as well. The worst part is that there is probably going to be somebody in the other seat when you cross. The first time I went, there was somebody there. Our instructions were to either wait for them to exit, or just continue on and not worry about them. I decided to wait the first time. After about 5 seconds I reached up and he was still there messing with his seatbelt and I panicked and got pulled out. The second time I tried to move too quick and got disoriented and didn't even make to the other side. But I passed it on the third attempt.
After that we had to do 1 or 2 iterations with a HEED EBD (Helicopter Emergency Egress Device, Emergency Breathing Device). First we learned how to use the oxygen by flipping upside down against the side of the pool while somebody held our legs. We had to take 2 breaths with the device before coming up. I've never used oxygen like this before, so It was really weird to me. I never really got used to it. After that, we were put in the chairs again before moving back to the device. I don't remember how many iterations we had to do with the regulator and oxygen but it was much easier in my opinion.
The last part of training is how to survive once you are out of the helicopter. It consisted of how to keep from freezing, the best ways to survive and move as a group, and how to use a rescue raft. After that they showed us how to get strapped in and hoisted up to a helicopter for a water rescue, and that was that. We were done with Dunker.
All in all, I think it was great training. I conquered somewhat of a fear of mine (being upside down in water), and learned a lot. I had a weird feeling in my head for a few days while they water drained from my nasal cavity, but other than that I was good to go. The next "activity"....SERE!
