UTV’s or LTATV's are the fastest growing segment of the off road industries. LTATV’s are gaining momentum as the most versatile vehicles to use in military and recreational settings. LTATV training is geared toward the proper safety and operation of 4 wheel Utility Terrain Vehicles where the driver sits in a seat, where a passenger can sit next to them and the steering is done via a steering wheel. Whether you are using military grade or consumer level UTV’s, Performance Training Group will provide you and your group the necessary skills to safely operate and maneuver on different types of terrain.
OVERVIEW
Performance Training Group, as a result of providing training to a number of the U.S. Joint Services, appreciates and values the opportunity to conduct initial instructions and new equipment training. Our course will provide;
1) An overview of Performance Training Group Program background activities
2) A detailed characterization review of each Vehicle
3) Driver Training instructions
4) Utility Vehicle Safety Certification Training Course
5) Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced driving maneuvers
6) PMCS training at the rider level
The training can be tailored to meet individual unit needs, Safety Officer, and Military Base requirements.
The Vehicle Training and familiarization program will be conducted by Performance Training Group representatives that are qualified Instructors in ATV/LUV Rider Safety Training. A minimum of 1 trainer per 3-4 students. The instructions will be conducted at the designated location. Depending on the number of trainees and vehicles, the course is designed to be completed in 3-5 days days.
TRAINING Requirements
Training needs consist of:
1) A classroom with laptop compatible projector
2) Driving Range Training Terrain should include:
a. a WADI
b. Modest and steep hills (From 10 – 60 Degrees)
c. Water up to 30”
d. Fallen trees or rock obstacles
e. Wooded areas for maneuvering
f. Ravines
g. Open flat area
3) Driver Training Materials should include:
a. Approximately 10 – 15 Orange Safety Cones
b. Approximately 10 – 15 Sandbags
4) Safety Gear should include:
a. Helmet
b. Eye protection
c. Gloves
d. Long sleeve shirt
e. Full length pants
f. Above-the-ankle boots
g. Hydration system
h. First aid kit
In advance we do like to meet or discuss with the Base Safety Office and appropriate safety personnel to insure we are meeting all base mandated safety criteria.
SUMMARY of Driver Training Instructions
Pre-visit - Day before training: Meet with host and/or Safety Officer, visit driving range, plan for and dry run the classroom.
Initial Orientation briefing (Classroom): Introductions, Agenda and course overview, Joint Objectives, brief Polaris Corporate Overview, SOCOM efforts, a general discussion on each Vehicle(s) Characteristics, User Operational Concepts, and Q and A.
Classroom Instructions estimated time is 1.5 hrs.
Vehicle “Hands on” Familiarization Briefing: Travel to outside staging area where vehicles are situated. Vehicle features instruction will begin with a 360 Degree walk-around of each vehicle to be trained on. Discussion and demonstration of these exterior vehicles features gives the riders familiarization with: each vehicle(s) nomenclature, individual exterior controls, starting and shut off, basics of how to operate the vehicle safely. After the initial walk-around, the class will then remove the engine covers and provide operator level instructions on the engine and powertrain features.
Familiarization estimated time is 1.5 hrs.
Driving Phase 1 - ATV Safety Certification Instructions: This session is to instill the critical importance of individual rider and group safety at every stage of the Training exercise. It will focus on safe riding habits at every stage of training. This would include all required training and maneuvers for SVIA Certification
Driving Phase 1 estimated time is 1 ½-2 hrs.
Driving Phases 2 - 4: Vehicles will be driven to the appropriate locations and approved ranges for Polaris Instructor’s demonstration of proper and safe driving techniques. Each trainee will be required to drive the vehicle(s). Riders will trade off driving the different types of vehicles to become familiar with each model being tested.
Our Training approach is to start off with a low degree of driving difficulty, advancing to modest/intermediate level and then to “safe-but-challenging” advanced riding.
The course is design to help riders understand how to use and how to leverage the benefits of the vehicles features such as; all wheel drive, 2 wheel drive, when Horse Power is critical, proper winching techniques, simple pre-water checks, obstacle traversing, side-hill traversing, vehicle recovery, and proper towing.
The following are examples of the type of demos and driving planned…these can be adjusted to coincide with driving location terrain.
Driving Phases 2 – 4 estimated time is 1 ½ - 2 days.
DETAILED Driver Training Maneuvers
Phase 1 - Steering, Turning and Leaning techniques
· Flat land maneuvering around cones/sandbags in both clockwise and counter clockwise direction.
· Flat land weaving in and out of cones/sandbags in both directions
· Flat land figure eights around the above staged course
· Flat land acceleration and nominal breaking
· Flat land acceleration and emergency breaking
· Flat land group following safe distance
· Flat land crash avoidance
· Flat land Vehicle maneuvering with cargo…sandbags, boulders, equipment, other riders or appropriate combat media
· Flat land obstacles (logs, trees trunks, rimmed tires)…using left wheels, right wheels and then both wheels
· Flat land riding positions pros, cons and when to use…one knee up, both knees up, side straddle and standing…are vehicle dependent.
Phase 2 - Leaning and K turn
- Easy hill climbing and descending – hard ground
- Easy hill slide slope traversing (proper body positioning)-hard ground
- Repeat the above on soft ground (WADI) type terrain
- Modest/Intermediate hill climbing and descending –hard ground
- Modest/Intermediate slide slope traversing (proper body positioning) --hard ground
- Repeat on Modest/Intermediate soft ground (WADI) type terrain
- Practice K turns on the ascent hill side on the above hills…as appropriate to learn
Phase 3 Maneuvering and Winching…in wooded, rocky surfaces, fallen trees type terrain
- Maneuvering in relatively flat terrains with hard ground
- Maneuvering in WADI modest terrains with soft ground
- Winching in Ravines locations :
- Casualty-Evacuations using Vehicle and a NATO litter rack
- Vehicle self winching recovery
- Vehicle to Vehicle winching recovery
- Additional front and rear winching training
Phase 4 Hill Climbs…Water crossings and Loaded Vehicles (Intermediate to Advanced)
- Hill ascent and descent climbs and maneuvers
- Water crossing techniques…streams
- Water crossing techniques…small ponds training up to 30’’ of water
- Variation of Vehicle loads…front and rear
- Other exercises as time and conditions permit
Phase 5 Wrap up (Classroom)
- Questions and Answers
- Lessons learned from the riders perspective
- Review of Preventive Maintenance
- Review of safety awareness and go forward SOP recommendations
- Award of ATV Safety Certifications
Notes: The above is provided as a planning guide. Execution will depend on the ability of the rider and past experience. It is required that each driver learn and safely execute each segment of training in order to proceed to the next level.
