text: Chapter 5
  FAMILIARIZATION
  5-31. When time and situation permit, personnel unfamiliar with SPIES should watch or help with the
  rigging of the helicopter. Initial training with SPIES is without combat equipment. This builds confidence
  in the equipment and procedures, and it aids in more comprehensive training of new SPIES masters.
  SAFETY
  5-32. This safety briefing should cover at a minimum--
  • Area hazards.
  • General Aircraft safety.
  • SPIES equipment and its characteristics.
  • Preoperational inspection of equipment.
  • Proper donning of the harness.
  • Method of insertion and extraction.
  • Hand-and-arm signals and emergency signals.
  • Medical coverage.
  • Communications requirements.
  • Operational requirements for limited visibility.
  COMMUNICATIONS
  5-33. Helicopter noise necessitates radio communications be the primary means of communications
  between the Soldiers on the ground and the helicopter. Light and arm-and-hand signals are the alternate
  means of communication. The SPIES master uses the inter-cockpit communication system on the
  helicopter. Soldiers practice the appropriate arm-and-hand and light signals in case radio communications
  fail.
  5-34. Radio operators should use headsets and voice suppressors (if available) rather than handsets. This
  frees the ground RTO's hands so that, when the helicopter hovers, he can hook up faster and more safely.
  EXTRACTION
  5-35. After the extracting team is located on the ground, the SPIES master helps direct the helicopter the
  proper distance above the team. On order of the pilot, the SPIES master drops the rope.
  1. The team leader positions himself to move and approach the rope as the SPIES master drops
  it. Once the rope is clear of any obstacles, the team leader directs the team to move to their
  assigned positions along the hookup points.
  2. Each member attaches the primary (harness) snaplink to the "D" ring on his side of the line.
  Using the safety line and snaplink, he hooks into the alternate or secondary hookup point on
  the opposite side of the rope. He faces forward along the line so that, when the aircraft
  ascends, he is looking in the direction of travel. He holds up the SPIES rope and routes it over
  the shoulder closest to the rope. With the other hand, he gives a thumbs-up signal to the team
  leader and SPIES master signaling he is ready to go.
  3. After all team members signal they are ready, the team leader physically inspects (if time and
  situation permit) each team members hook up. The team leader then hooks himself on to the
  lowest point with the RTO. He then gives the thumbs-up signal to the SPIES master. He
  continues this thumbs-up signal, which at night is an arranged light signal, until the helicopter
  reaches a safe altitude (about 3 meters above the tallest obstacle at the extraction site).