News & Stories
New gear: 1/6 picks up CRS
Marine Corps News
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
Story by: Lance Corporal Joseph D. Day, 2nd Marine Division
What if the corpsman is already taking care of another Marine? What if the corpsman is the one who got hurt? Is there another way to get Marines out of a hostile zone?
Marines from 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, learned how to use the combat rescue sling here Jan. 29, in preparation for an upcoming deployment, which answers these questions.
"The sling is made to help save lives," said William C. Wennberg, the chief executive officer for the company which designed the sling. "It is designed to give the Marines a way to quickly grab a fallen brother and get them out of the line of fire."
The Marines went through eight different stations, including pulling a man from under a debris pile and carrying a Marine up and down a flight of stairs to learn the different uses for the sling. Each station had a specific goal with many different ways it could be achieved with the CRS.
"I could see myself using this in tight situations where a person may need to be pulled out from under some debris," said Lance Cpl. Peter Barnum, a fire direction controller with the battalion. "It is one of those things you give to a Marine and he will find 100 different uses for it."
The stations also consisted of pulling a simulated wounded Marine from a tight spot under debris, climbing stairwells with a wounded person and rescuing a downed Marine without leaving cover.
"You can take the sling and connect it to as many other slings as you want," Wennberg said. "You can use it as a rope that has steps in each loop, or you can strap it to a downed man and pick him up and carry him on your back."
According to the manufacturer, the sling is made out of nylon, can support up to 4,500 pounds and can be connected to other slings. The five, 2-foot loops are color coordinated for easier use.
"It's light weight, easy to use and has many uses," said Lance Cpl. Brandon Mcguffin, a forward radio operator for the battalion. "Those are all the characteristics a Marine looks for in any piece of gear. It takes nothing to put one of these things in your pocket."
The sling system has already been given out to 3rd Bn, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I MEF (Forward), who are using it in the streets of Fallujah, Iraq.
"In urban terrain, like the one we are facing in the cities of Iraq, the sling will help get Marines out," said Lance Cpl. Stephen Canty, a mortarman with the battalion. "It makes it a lot easier to carry a man down a flight of stairs quickly. The litters our corpsmen carry are hard to maneuver through the tight stairwells in Iraq. This moves however we want it to."
Wennberg says he sees the sling being used more frequently by battalions, two battalions already have it and 1st Bn, 6th Marines will be the third.
"I want it to be a staple of the Marines," Wennberg said. "If the sling can save lives then I want everyone in the Marine Corps, and every branch, to have it."
Firefighters Teach 3/5 Rescue Skills
From the Pendleton News
US Marine Corps, Camp Pendleton, California
Story by: Lance Cpl Ryan Tomlinson
The sling used by firefighters from all around the United States was introduced to Marines with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment Sept. 11.
Firefighters taught 3/5 Rapid Urban Breaching and Rescue Concepts, and how to use the combat ready sling at the 3/5 motor pool here.
With these concepts you will be able to bring the Marine from the point of impact to point of extraction," said William C. Wennberg, 31, chief executive officer of Contact Front, from Bryn Mawr, Pa. "This training has not been instilled into the Marines and is a priority."
The Marines learned all concepts in one day. The morning classes taught the Marines how to properly use the sling at any place and time during a firefight, and also a crash course on basic roping knots.
The afternoon involved four individual stations comprised of unique situations that an infantryman could be involved in during a conflict.
At the first station, Marines were taught how to properly use the sling while medically evacuating a Marine through a window. The second station trained them how to dismount a combat locked humvee with the sling. The third educated them on forcible entry through a wall, doorway and even a humvee hatch. The final stage demonstrated how to use a sling on a stairwell when a Marine was out of reach.
"Before this sling, it would take up to four Marines to get one man evacuated from the scene, and now it only takes one to two," said Sgt. Chaz J. Valentine, a vehicle commander with Personal Security Detail, 3/5. "The new sling is perfect for my platoon because we're limited in numbers for Marines to be used and it will work in every situation."
He added that if these slings aren't issued, he would make one for his Marines.
The Marines trained vigorously all day to learn the concepts. The instructors were open-minded about different ways the Marines felt it could be done.
"The instructors encouraged us to give our feedback if we thought a technique could be performed better for us," said Valentine, 24, from Ewa Beach, Hawaii. "They opened our minds to different situations and let us adapt and accomplish." The instructors are currently planning at Headquarters Marine Corps to train other infantry units in the future.
"I loved teaching this course because I am able to give back to those who serve," said Bruce J. Schweiger, 27, an instructor from Contact Front Wilmington, Del. "I hoped this has helped them enough to one day save a brother's life."
Press Releases
Contact Front Trains Air Force Security Forces Squadron
Bryn Mawr PA
October 17, 2008
The training took place at Moody's Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) facility where Airmen donned full combat loads and operated in common urban scenarios testing their leadership skills as well as tactical proficiencies. Much of the training integrated the employment of the Nexus Extraction Tool, NET, an improved version of Contact Front's combat rescue sling, which was recently procured by the United States Air Force in an effort to address the current capability gap facing Airmen when tasked with casualty extraction and transport from point of impact to definitive care.
The Warriors of the 824th were anxious to get their hands on the new NETs and recommended to Battle Lab personnel, the facilitators of the training event, that Contact Front provide similar training programs to Air Force Security Forces' units service wide.
The TRET served as an addition to the 824th's pre-deployment training package and focused on promoting confidence to casualty response and instilling an offensive mindset in the Airmen. The 824th is tasked with a unique combat mission and will be deployed in theater within the upcoming months.
For information, contact:
William C. Wennberg
Chief Executive Officer
Contact Front, LLC
will.wennberg@contactfront.com
571.338.9455
Contact Front Trains Hawaii Warriors
Bryn Mawr, PA
March 28, 2008
From March 10-12, Contact Front traveled to various locations at the Pohakuloa Training Area, demonstrating the proper use of the CRS, and allowing the Marines to experiment and train with the device. With a combat deployment just months away for the regiment, the Marines of 1/3 were eager to determine whether this 12 ounce ball of nylon was worth adding to their combat load. The response was overwhelming as the Marines were impressed with the versatility the CRS offered yet with minimal to no impact on their combat load. The CRS can be comfortably stowed in the cargo pocket of the utility uniform, or in a tactical pouch attached to the outer tactical vest, then quickly deployed to drag or carry a casualty from point of impact to a casualty collection point. With a 4500 lb tensile strength, the CRS packs a lot of power in a very small and light-weight package.
The CRS is currently being used in Iraq and Afghanistan by select infantry battalions of the United States Marine Corps.
For information, contact:
William C. Wennberg
Chief Executive Officer
Contact Front, LLC
will.wennberg@contactfront.com
571.338.9455
Contact Front Conducts Pre-Deployment Training for BLT 1/6
Bryn Mawr, PA
January 31, 2008
Along with the combat lifesavers, corpsman, and team leaders from the battalion, BLT 1/6 sent elements from their attachments to include scouts from 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, crewman from 2nd Amphibious Assault Vehicle Battalion, forward observers from 1st Battalion 10th Marines, and scouts from 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion to participate in the training. The Marines of the BLT rotated through stations where they learned how to use the CRS to negotiate common obstacles, such as stairs and windows, assist in a confined space rescue, and underwent combat lifesaver and tactical considerations training.
All the Marines agreed that the CRS provides much utility and flexibility and is especially useful in lieu of any type of poleless or field expedient litter. There was no question that Marines would rather each be carrying 12 ounces of nylon in their cargo pocket than any type of litter on the battlefield. Fully employing the CRS provides lifting points or handles enabling a four point carry which provides an effective alternative when a litter is not convenient.
Contact Front is scheduled to conduct similar training for 3rd Marine Regiment in early March.
For information, contact:
William C. Wennberg
Chief Executive Officer
Contact Front, LLC
will.wennberg@contactfront.com
571.338.9455
Contact Front Demonstrates the CRS for 1st Bn 6th Marine Regiment
Bryn Mawr, PA
December 22, 2007
On December 18, 2007, Contact Front demonstrated the proper employment of the Combat Rescue Sling at the home of 1/6, Camp Lejeune, NC. This followed a purchase of the device by the battalion.
Scheduled to deploy in support of the Global War on Terror, 1/6 plans to carry the CRS during combat operations and incorporate its training in their pre-deployment work-ups.
The request for the CRS and demonstration came after 1/6 had heard of other Marine units using the CRS and wanted to obtain the sling prior to its deployment. Contact Front intends to continue to work with 1/6 during its pre-deployment training.
For information, contact:
William C. Wennberg
Chief Executive Officer
Contact Front, LLC
will.wennberg@contactfront.com
571.338.9455
Contact Front Trains Wilmington PD SWAT
Bryn Mawr, PA
December 14, 2007
The officers were concerned with the rapid and efficient extrication of downed officers during a close-quarter battle, and Contact Front responded with a program highlighting simple and effective techniques to employ the CRS in confined spaces while under fire.
The officers were not the only operators involved in the training. A Wilmington PD canine was used throughout the training session in order to develop techniques for the efficient removal of injured dogs during a firefight. Contact Front is currently working on a canine version of the CRS.
Inspector Sean Finerty, Uniform Operations, Wilmington PD, oversaw the SWAT training and commented, "I have been doing special ops for almost 30 years, and I learned stuff in those few hours with [Contact Front] that I never knew before."
Wilmington PD SWAT intends to start carrying the CRS and incorporate the associated techniques into its standard operating procedures.
For information, contact:
William C. Wennberg
Chief Executive Officer
Contact Front, LLC
will.wennberg@contactfront.com
571.338.9455
Contact Front Trains Special Operations Marines
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
October 25, 2007
This training stresses the need for fast extraction of the wounded and injured and teaches special techniques developed by Contact Front using the Combat Rescue Sling, a compact, lightweight device distributed by the company.
William C. Wennberg, Contact Front CEO and himself a former Marine commented, "It's hard to quantify precisely, but there is no doubt in my mind that these techniques, especially when used in combination with the Combat Rescue Sling, will save many lives."
Marines in attendance came from different units to include 2nd MSOS, MARSOC, 3rd Force Recon, EOD, CBIRF, and Security Forces.
This assignment follows the successful conduct of a similar course with the Third Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment (3/5) at Camp Pendleton, California the previous month. 3/5 is currently putting their training and equipment to the test in operations in Al Anbar province in Iraq.
For information, contact:
William C. Wennberg
Chief Executive Officer
Contact Front, LLC
will.wennberg@contactfront.com
571.338.9455
Contact Front Trains Marines for Special Rescues
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
October 15, 2007
During the course of instruction, the Marines were introduced to the Combat Rescue Sling (CRS), another Contact Front innovation, and spent the duration of training at practical application stations, where they honed their rescue techniques, and became proficient in the employment of the CRS.
The Marines rotated through six stations which lasted 40 minutes apiece. The stations included basic first-aid assessment, knots and mechanical advantage, basic drags and carries (with and without the assistance of the CRS), stairwell extrication, window extrication, confined space rescue, HMMWV (Humvee) extrication, and basic mechanical breaching with the MOUT Breacher's Kit (MBK).
The Marines of 3/5, many with multiple combat tours in support of Operations Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Iraqi Freedom, found the training to be very valuable and the CRS a necessary addition to their combat load. They found much versatility in the CRS and commented on numerous occasions that it should be issued to every Marine.
"Before this sling, it would take up to four Marines to get one man evacuated from the scene, and now it only takes one or two," said Sgt. Chaz J. Valentine, a vehicle commander with Personal Security Detail, 3/5. "The new sling is perfect for my platoon because we're limited in numbers and it will work in every situation."
He added that if these slings aren't issued, he would make one for his Marines.
The Marines trained vigorously all day to learn the concepts. The Contact Front staff was open-minded about different ways the Marines felt it could be done. "The instructors encouraged us to give our feedback if we thought a technique could be performed better for us," Valentine added. "They opened our minds to different situations and let us adapt and accomplish."
Warriors from Lima Company, 3/5, discovered a new technique when using the CRS to facilitate the evacuation of a casualty up a flight of stairs. Contact Front has named it the "Dark Horse Drill" in their honor and it will become a staple in the RUBR™ curriculum.
At the session's close, Contact Front instructor Bruce Schweiger summed up the company's vision and commitment. "I loved teaching this course because I'm able to give back to those who serve. I hope this has helped them enough to one day save a brother's life."
For information, contact:
William C. Wennberg
Chief Executive Officer
Contact Front, LLC
will.wennberg@contactfront.com
571.338.9455