Spanish Helicopter School Battalion [SHSB]
The Spanish Helicopter School Battalion [SHSB] is assigned to the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC) [formerly known as the U.S. Army School of the Americas at Fort Benning, but is attached to Fort Rucker's Aviation Training Brigade to standardize its training and take advantage of the resources at the Aviation Center. The SHSB is unique -- it is the only aviation unit in the US Army which trains and qualifies Latin American pilots and maintainers, using Spanish as the primary language. In the major drug-producing nations, the bulk of the rotary-wing airmen and mechanics were trained here by the Spanish Helicopter School Battalion.
Training capable pilots to support US security assistance and counterdrug operations in Latin America is a difficult mission by any standard. Graduates of the SHSB's training programs participate in traditional and non-traditional missions in the Hemisphere, to include drug interdiction, United Nation's peace keeping operations, and humanitarian relief assistance - all requiring competent and skilled Aviation personnel to ensure success.
Originally activated as the U.S. Southern Command's Aviation Platoon in 1984, the unit was re-designated as the USARSA Spanish Helicopter School Battalion in 1991. In 1995, the unit was officially assigned to the Army's Aviation Training Brigade (ATB), Aviation Training Center at Fort Rucker, AL. Although assigned to the ATB, the unit maintains its U.S. Army School of the Americas' heritage as an affiliated unit. This is due to the highly specialized technical instruction which is delivered only in the Spanish language.
Since inception, the SHSB has trained more than 1,400 pilots and maintenance personnel from 13 Latin American nations in 21 programs. Training includes flight and maintenance courses on the UH-1 (Huey) and UH-60 (Blackhawk) helicopters.
The SHSB is organized with an Aviation Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), and three Aviation Companies (A, B, and C). While the HHC, A and B Companies are located at Fort Rucker, C Company is located at the Army's Aviation Logistical School at Fort Eustis, Va.
Between both locations, a total of 82 personnel are assigned to instruct all aspects of the highly technical flight and maintenance programs. These include 30 U.S. Army personnel, 46 Department of the Army civilians, and five Latin American guest instructors.
Training at Fort Rucker concentrates primarily on the time-tested UH-1 platform which is still in service within the military and police forces of Latin America. These courses include: Initial Entry Rotary Wing; Rotary Wing Qualification; Instrument Refresher; Transition; Night Vision Goggle Qualification; Instructor Pilot; and Instructor Pilot Night Vision Goggle Qualification Courses.
Due to the recent sales of Blackhawk helicopters to several nations in Latin America, the curriculum also includes three courses on the advanced UH-60 platform: Transition; Refresher Training; and Night Vision Goggle Qualification Courses.
Furthermore, the Aviation Safety Management, Maintenance Manager, Maintenance Test Pilot, and UH-1 Helicopter Repairer courses augment the curriculum. Course duration ranges from three weeks to over 23 weeks at Fort Rucker.
The bulk of the maintenance instruction is conducted at Fort Eustis to include: Power Plant; Power Train; Structural Repair; Electrician; and Helicopter Repairer Supervisor courses. Courses taught there last from six to 16 weeks.
A snapshot of the Initial Entry Rotary Wing Course provides an inside look at the amount of training required of a candidate to become qualified to fly one of today's complex helicopters. During the demanding 23-week course, students must successfully complete a total of 154 hours of logged flight time to include: 95.5 day; 22 hours night; 15 hours with night vision goggles; and 21 hours simulator time. Augmented by 178 hours of rigorous academics in Federal and Army Aviation Regulations, visual flight rules, instruments, communications, maintenance, and tactics, and the successful student pilot is well prepared to earn the coveted title of "Army Aviator".
To ensure those future aviators keep flying, the Spanish Helicopter School Battalion's maintenance instruction is just as demanding as the flight programs. To become a graduate of one of many courses, students must competently learn to maintain, service, troubleshoot, adjust and replace helicopter systems and components.
A look into the UH-1 Helicopter Repairer Course illustrates the knowledge and skills required to keep an aircraft operational. During the 10-week course, students receive 339 hours of critical academic and hands-on training in technical subjects to include: power plant systems; fuel systems; airframe; and flight control systems.
In addition to aviation-related subjects, instruction at the SHSB coincides with the USARSA's emphasis on providing human rights training to all graduates. This training is emphasized in the belief that all soldiers and police officials must be knowledgeable on human rights issues to effectively meet the threats encountered during the conduct of their duties.
