| Unit Name: | United States Army Air Assault School |
| Type: | Military training |
| Role: | Special skills training |
| Garrison: | Fort Campbell, Kentucky |
| Nickname: | The Ten Toughest Days in the Army |
| Patron: | Walter James Sabalauski |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Headgear worn by special skills instructors, known as "Black Hats" |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | Air Assault Badge awarded at graduation |
The United States Army Air Assault School (officially, the Sabalauski Air Assault School, or TSAAS), is an Army Forces Command Table of Distribution and Allowances unit located at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Its primary task is training leaders and soldiers assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (AASLT), other United States Army units, and United States Armed Forces service members. The school is named for Command Sergeant Major Walter James Sabalauski.
The school offers several courses, including Air Assault, Pathfinder, Pre-Rangerhttps://home.army.mil/campbell/index.php/tsaas/pre-ranger, Rappel Master, and Fast Rope Insertion Extraction System (FRIES)/Special Purpose Insertion Extraction (SPIES) Master courses. The school is also home to the Division's Parachute Demonstration Team. More than 8,000 soldiers are trained during more than 60 courses per year.
The best-known course offered at TSAAS is Air Assault School, which qualifies soldiers to conduct airmobile and air assault helicopter operations, including aircraft orientation; helicopter insertion; pathfinder operations; sling load operations; rappelling from buildings, cliffs and helicopters; and fast-rope techniques.
The Air Assault School course is offered several times per year, taught by instructors referred to as Air Assault Sergeants. Open to men and women, the rigorous, fast-paced training is known as the 10 (or 11[1]) toughest days[2] in the Army. About 15 percent of the class does not make it through the first day, dubbed Zero day, which includes a demanding obstacle course.[3] More fail to make it past sling load testing in phase two. Ultimately, only about 45 percent pass.
On the morning of graduation, students must complete a 19.3 km (12-mile) march with rucksack in under three hours before receiving their wings. Completion qualifies soldiers to wear the Air Assault Badge.[4]
Each day begins with rigorous physical training that includes unit runs from 3.2 to 8 km (2 to 5 miles).
Soldiers are not considered "Air Assault Students" until they complete Day Zero, the first day of the course, which includes an obstacle course, two-mile (3.2 km) run, and extensive physical training.
A meticulous inspection of each soldier's 16 kg (35-pound) ruck sack is conducted after the 9.7 km (6 mile) foot-march on Day One. Soldiers must have all items on the packing list each student is given, with each item clean and serviceable (in usable condition). A soldier who loses any item can be immediately dropped from the course. The inspection has a very specific lay-out that the soldier must adhere to. Every item must be placed exactly how the Air Assault instructors have displayed the items, and all items must be laid out "as worn."
Students must complete a two-mile (3.2 km) run in under 18 minutes to receive a "GO" — i.e., satisfactory completion of the event. The uniform for the run is Army Combat Uniform (minus the ACU Top depending on the season in which the training cycle begins) with running shoes.
Next is an obstacle course designed to assess a student's upper body strength, agility, endurance, confidence, and ability to perform at heights without displaying fear or distress. There are nine obstacles: two mandatory obstacles (failing either will result in being dropped from the course) and seven minor obstacles (a soldier may fail one and still continue).
Instructors use the obstacle test to determine whether a student will be able to complete Air Assault School without endangering themselves, instructors, or other students during the demanding course.
During the 3-day Phase One (Combat Assault), soldiers receive instruction in:
Soldiers are given two tests: a written test of 50 multiple-choice questions and a test of 10 of 16 hand-and-arm signals. Students must get at least 70% of the questions and seven of the signals right to pass and advance to the Sling Load Phase. They are allowed one retest per exam.
The three days of Phase Two (Slingload Operations) includes training on:
Students receive hands-on training on preparation, rigging, and inspection of several certified or suitable external loads. These may include the following loads:
The soldiers will also conduct an actual hook-up of a load underneath a CH-47 or UH-60 aircraft.
Soldiers must pass two tests to move on to the next phase:
Soldiers are allowed one retest per exam.
The 3-day Phase Three (Rappelling Phase) includes instruction on basic ground and aircraft rappelling procedures:
Soldiers conduct two rappels on the wall side of the school's 34feet tower, 9 to 12 rappels from the open side, and two rappels from a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter hovering at 21–27 m (70–90 ft). All rappels are conducted with and without combat equipment. During fast rope familiarization, students conduct a controlled descent and a static hold for five seconds. Students that successfully conduct both descents from a 12feet platform then descend from the 34feet tower using the stack-out/rapid exit technique. Fast rope descents are conducted without combat equipment.Soldiers are tested on:
Soldiers must pass all tests to move on to the next phase; they are allowed one retest per exam. The standards of this course are so strict because failure to master the skills increases the chances of an accident. The margin for error in this type of training is small.
The final event is the 12miles ruck march, which soldiers must complete with the prescribed uniform and equipment in three hours or less or fail to graduate. Upon completion of the ruck march, soldiers lay out all items in the packing list. A lack of any item prevents the soldier from graduating.
The original Air Assault School is located at Fort Campbell, home of the 101st Airborne Division. There are also or have been schools at:
Graduation from the Air Assault School is not required to be a soldier in the 101st, but it is looked upon as an achievement of excellence by the chain of command.
In 1998, Fort Campbell built a 34feet tower for use in Phase Three.
On 17 December 1999, the new Sabalauski Air Assault School facility was dedicated and for the first time in several years all phases of instruction were conducted at one facility.