Medical Students Conquer Air Assault School, Earn Top Honors

Two USU medical students, Army 2nd Lt. Christian Song and Air Force 2nd Lt. Frank Lin, completed the Army Air Assault School, earning top honors as Distinguished Honor Graduates.

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2nd Lt. Song on Graduation Day with his Distinguished Honor Graduate tomahawk. (Photo credit: U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Christian Song)

October 8, 2024 by Vivian Mason

There is zero margin for error at the Sabalauski Air Assault School (AAS) in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. This rigorous, fast-paced training is intense. Few schools can match the physical demands, mental pressures, and intense excitement of trying to earn the coveted Air Assault badge.

Despite the challenge, Uniformed Services University (USU) fourth-year U.S. Army medical student 2nd Lt. Christian Song, and second-year U.S. Air Force medical student 2nd Lt. Frank Lin not only earned their badges, but they also excelled as their respective class' Distinguished Honor Graduates. The coveted title is awarded to the top-performing students in each class, based on their performance in written and practical exams across the school's three rigorous phases.

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Song (left) and Lin (right) pose in the USU courtyard with their Distinguished Honor Graduate tomahawks. (Photo credit: U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Christian Song)

"It was a really great experience, but a lot harder than I expected," Song says. "Even now, I still find myself making sure that my zippers are all zipped, buttons all buttoned. Air Assault operations stress attention to detail."

Lin echoes the sentiment. "It was so cool to have done this. It shows that you have the calmness of learning something quickly and that you have certain physical abilities."

The Air Assault School, open to all military branches, is run by Army noncommissioned officers known as "Air Assault Sergeants." The 10-day course is designed to teach servicemembers critical skills, including insertion, evacuation, and pathfinder operations.

Day Zero, the first day of the course, sets the tone with a two-mile run, a grueling physical training session, and an obstacle course that eliminates many participants early.

"We started with about 150 students in my class," says Song, "and only about 100 made it through." Lin's experience was similar. His class began with 300 students but graduated only 150.

Training is divided into three phases: the combat assault phase, the sling load phase, and the rappelling phase. Each phase lasts about three days and builds upon each other.

Phase 1 starts at the end of Day Zero and teaches aircraft safety and orientation, aeromedical evacuations, pathfinder operations, and combat assault operations.

Phase 2 teaches preparation, rigging, and inspection of the M998 high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV), the M1102 trailer, the A22 cargo bag, and the 5k/10k cargo net for sling load operations (i.e., hooking up oversized loads underneath helicopters for transport).

Phase 3 teaches rappelling procedures. Soldiers perform two rappels on the wall side of a 34-foot tower, nine to 12 rappels from the open side, and one rappel out of a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter.

"Rappelling [off the helicopter] was the fun part. What a rush!" says Lin. "You have to think about a few more things than just the wall. For instance, if you don't jump outwards far enough, you might hit yourself on the helicopter floor ledge. That was my biggest fear. So, I pushed outwards as hard as I could. Once you're up that high, you're already there, and the only way you're going down is by rappelling."

One of the most stressful aspects of the course is the packing list inspection. Students are required to bring all mandatory items on the list. Inspection of these items normally occurs on Day Zero and at various points throughout training. Items include the improved outer tactical vest (IOTV) with ballistic plates, an extra set of OCPs (operational camouflage pattern uniforms), and miscellaneous safety equipment, such as eye protection. These items weigh roughly a total of 45 pounds. All packing list items are 100% accountable and inspectable 100% of the time.

"They would actually check your entire backpack to make sure that everything was there," Lin says. "People get dropped for that all the time. It made us extremely paranoid. We checked our rucks over and over and over again."

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Air Assault School students line up at 3 a.m. to pick up their "rubber duckies" (imitation rifles) before starting the 12-mile ruck. (Photo credit: U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Frank Lin)

Graduation day, which begins with a 12-mile ruck march, is the final test. Participants must complete the march within three hours, carrying 40 to 50 pounds of gear. Many students who make it through the course still drop out on this final challenge. The day concludes with a brief ceremony wherein graduates are awarded the Air Assault Badge. The soldier with the fastest time for the 12-mile ruck march is also recognized.

"In my group, about 15 people dropped out from that march," says Song. "They completed everything else, but not the 12 miles. After all that anxiety and pain, they didn't finish the course."

Both students attribute their success to the training they received at USU.

"I think that they want to see your grit, determination, and desire to continue, as well as finish the course," says Song. "Being at USU has helped me to become not only a physician, but also a soldier and officer. It gave me the opportunity to do Air Assault School, which is beyond anything that I could have asked for. I really think that USU is one of the best medical schools in the country. Anyone who wants to join the military and become a physician should strongly consider coming to this institution."

Song also attributes his wife as a major factor in his success at AAS. "She encourages me to challenge myself and grow as an individual. Having her support at the end of the training day was important. I spent a lot of time praying to go to Air Assault, and I spent a lot of time praying while there that I'd make it through. I'm thankful for the support of friends, family, and classmates."

Lin adds, "I came to USU to become a military doctor, and I like to learn about ways that will make me better at treating or relating to my future soldiers. Literally a week after I came back from Air Assault School, I got the opportunity to participate in the Advanced Combat Medical Experience. I couldn't see myself doing this at any other medical school."

Reflecting on their time at Air Assault School, both Song and Lin agree that the most significant transformation was internal.

"One of the instructors told us, 'By the end of this course, you will be better,'" Song says. "He was right."

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