Alfred University ROTC cadet meets challenges of Air Assault School

ALFRED, NY – Matthew Barber, a junior ROTC cadet at Alfred University, participated in and completed the Sabalauski Air Assault School in Fort Campbell, KY, home of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division. The Air Assault School—viewed as one of the Army’s most physically and mentally demanding and challenging training programs—was held over 10 days from July 24-Aug. 10.

Barber, a health fitness management major from Westfield, PA, was one of only two cadets from the ROTC Seneca Battalion—consisting of students from Alfred University, Alfred State College, Houghton College, University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, and host school St. Bonaventure University—invited to attend the Air Assault School. More than 300 cadets began the program, with just 148 graduating and receiving the prestigious U.S. Army Air Assault Badge. Barber was chosen to attend the school based on a ranking of Seneca Battalion cadets who volunteered to enroll. Rankings were determined by GPAs, PT scores, and school activities, including involvement in ROTC. Barber ranked among the top two in his battalion.

According to the U.S. Army Fort Campbell website, the purpose of Air Assault School is to “train soldiers in Air Assault operations, sling-load operations, and rappelling…Upon graduation of the course each soldier will be able to perform skills required to make maximum use of helicopter assets in training and in combat to support their unit operations.” Physical requirements for successful completion of Air Assault School include: a six-mile foot march in 1 hour 30 minutes; a four-mile run in 36 minutes; and a 12-mile foot march in three hours. Soldiers must also pass several written and practical tests in order to graduate.

“The greatest challenges of completing Air Assault School were primarily in the classroom, not so much physically,” Barber recalled. “Throughout the course you are learning an ample amount of information in a short period of time with a test and practical at the end of each phase. Consequently, you will find yourself up late at night studying, and having to wake up early to head to the school house for PT.”

In the second phase of Air Assault School, cadets learned about helicopters and allowable cargo load, equipment used in sling loads—sling load operation is when a helicopter uses ropes to rapidly transport gear, equipment, and resources that are needed for a mission—and how to properly inspect multiple pieces of Army equipment. Successful completion of the school was a team effort, Barber said.

“We helped each other study every day and gave each other practice quizzes and practicals, which allowed us to excel in the classroom,” he said. “Likewise, we all helped each other throughout the physical portions of the course, like the six- and 12-mile foot march, by pacing each other and making sure no one fell behind. I was more excited about seeing my friends get their wings (Air Assault badge) than myself because we all helped each other throughout the school and wanted each other to pass just as badly as ourselves.”

Barber said after graduating from Alfred University, he plans to commission into the Army as an Active Duty Infantry/Armor Officer “and live out my dream job” of a career in the military.