Paratroopers from the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade’s

Paratroopers from the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade’s Pathfinder Company hook up a bundle of equipment to the hook on the bottom of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter as they practice sling-load operations at Butts Army Airfield on Fort Carson, Colo., May 15. For these troops, who are currently training for their deployment to Afghanistan with the aviators of 2nd Aviation Assault Battalion, 82nd CAB and Task Force Corsair during High Altitude Mountain Environmental Training at Fort Carson, their standard infantry training must coincide with specialized training to conduct downed aircraft recovery and personnel recovery missions. In addition to using a sling-load to transport equipment, the technique can be used to move another aircraft that has gone down and is unable to fly. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Sgt. Patrick Smittle, Task Force Corsair, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade)