Air Force Staff Sergeant Completes Army Air Assault School as Sole Airman
Air Force Staff Sgt. Ivan Sauer, assigned to the 195th Wing Security Forces, became the only airman to graduate from the U.S. Army's 10-day Air Assault School at Camp San Luis Obispo, California, in late May 2026. The course covered air assault missions, sling-load procedures, and rappelling. Sauer, who learned of the opportunity just two weeks prior, drew on prior experience at Army Ranger School and other competitions to succeed. Senior Master Sgt. William Wade identified him as a candidate, and Lt. Col. Sahira DeMarco praised his elite performance.
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Air Force Staff Sergeant Becomes Only Airman to Graduate Army Air Assault School
Staff Sgt. Ivan Sauer, an Air Force security forces airman assigned to the 195th Wing, became the only airman in his class to complete the U.S. Army Air Assault School in late May 2026. The 10-day course at Camp San Luis Obispo, California, trained service members in air assault missions, sling-load procedures, and rappelling techniques. Sauer, who learned of the opportunity just two weeks prior, said he felt pressure to represent the entire Air Force. His prior experience included the Army's Ranger School, a third-place finish in the 18-mile Norwegian Foot March, and completion of the Army Best Warrior Competition. Senior Master Sgt. William Wade identified Sauer as a candidate. Lt. Col. Sahira DeMarco praised his achievement as demonstrating elite standards. The school is run by Warrior Training Center Brigade sergeants from Fort Benning, Georgia.
Army TimesStaff Sergeant becomes only airman in his class to complete Army Air Assault School
Staff Sgt. Ivan Sauer, assigned to the 195th Wing Security Forces, became the only airman to graduate from the 10-day U.S. Army Air Assault School at Camp San Luis Obispo, California, in late May 2026. Sauer felt the pressure of representing the entire Air Force and was determined to finish. The course, taught by specialized sergeants from Fort Benning's Warrior Training Center, trains service members in air assault missions, sling-load procedures, and rappelling techniques. Sauer only learned of the opportunity two weeks prior but was ready for the challenge, drawing on past experience at Army Ranger School. He also placed third in the 18-mile Norwegian Foot March and completed the Army Best Warrior Competition. Senior Master Sgt. William Wade identified Sauer as a candidate, and Lt. Col. Sahira DeMarco praised his achievement as demonstrating an elite standard.
Air Force TimesStaff Sergeant becomes only airman in his class to complete Army Air Assault School
Staff Sgt. Ivan Sauer, assigned to the 195th Wing Security Forces, became the only airman to graduate from the U.S. Army Air Assault School in late May, earning the Air Assault Badge. The 10-day course at Camp San Luis Obispo, California, trained service members in air assault missions, sling-load procedures, and rappelling techniques. Sauer, who learned of the opportunity only two weeks prior, said he felt pressure to represent the entire Air Force. His previous experience at Army Ranger School and success in the Norwegian Foot March and Army Best Warrior Competition prepared him for the challenge. Senior Master Sgt. William Wade identified Sauer as a candidate, and Lt. Col. Sahira DeMarco praised his performance.
Air Force TimesAir Force Staff Sergeant Becomes Only Airman to Complete Army Air Assault School
Air Force Staff Sgt. Ivan Sauer, assigned to the 195th Wing Security Forces, became the only airman in his class to graduate from the U.S. Army's 10-day Air Assault School at Camp San Luis Obispo, California, in late May. The course, taught by specialized sergeants from the Warrior Training Center Brigade at Fort Benning, Georgia, covers air assault missions, sling-load procedures, and rappelling techniques. Sauer, who learned of the opportunity just two weeks prior, felt intense pressure as the sole Air Force representative but was determined to finish. His prior experience at the U.S. Army's Ranger School helped prepare him. He also placed third in the 18-mile Norwegian Foot March at Mather Air Force Base and completed the Army Best Warrior Competition. Senior Master Sgt. William Wade identified Sauer as a candidate, and Lt. Col. Sahira DeMarco praised his achievement as demonstrating the elite standard of the 195th Wing defenders.
Military TimesStaff sergeant becomes only airman in his class to complete Army Air Assault School
Staff Sgt. Ivan Sauer, assigned to the 195th Wing Security Forces, became the only airman to graduate from the 10-day U.S. Army Air Assault School at Camp San Luis Obispo, California, in late May. He earned the Air Assault Badge after completing training in air assault missions, sling-load procedures, rappelling, and helicopter operations. Sauer learned of the opportunity just two weeks prior and felt intense pressure to represent the Air Force. His previous experience at Army Ranger School, a third-place finish in the 18-mile Norwegian Foot March, and completion of the Army Best Warrior Competition prepared him for the challenge. Senior Master Sgt. William Wade identified Sauer as a candidate, and Lt. Col. Sahira DeMarco praised his performance, calling it an elite standard for the 195th Wing defenders.
Army TimesStaff sergeant becomes only airman in his class to complete Army Air Assault School
Staff Sgt. Ivan Sauer, an Air Force security forces member assigned to the 195th Wing, became the only airman to graduate from the 10-day U.S. Army Air Assault School at Camp San Luis Obispo, California, in late May, earning an Air Assault Badge. Sauer felt intense pressure as the sole Air Force representative in his class but successfully completed training in air assault missions, sling-load procedures, and rappelling techniques taught by Army instructors. He was selected for the course by his senior enlisted leader, Senior Master Sgt. William Wade, and prepared using prior experience from the Army's Ranger School, the Norwegian Foot March, and the Army Best Warrior Competition. Lt. Col. Sahira DeMarco praised Sauer for demonstrating the elite standard of the 195th Wing defenders.
Military TimesStaff sergeant becomes only airman in his class to complete Army Air Assault School
Staff Sgt. Ivan Sauer, an Air Force security forces member assigned to the 195th Wing, became the sole airman to graduate from a 10-day U.S. Army Air Assault School class in late May 2026. The course, held at Camp San Luis Obispo, California, trains service members in air assault missions, sling-load procedures, and rappelling techniques. Sauer, who learned of the opportunity only two weeks before it started, said he felt intense pressure to represent the Air Force. His prior experience at Army Ranger School and completion of the 18-mile Norwegian Foot March and the Army Best Warrior Competition prepared him for the challenge. Senior Master Sgt. William Wade identified Sauer as a candidate. Lt. Col. Sahira DeMarco praised his performance as demonstrating an elite standard.
Military TimesStaff sergeant becomes only airman in his class to complete Army Air Assault School
Air Force Staff Sgt. Ivan Sauer, assigned to the 195th Wing Security Forces, became the only airman in his class to graduate from the 10-day U.S. Army Air Assault School at Camp San Luis Obispo, California, in late May. He received an Air Assault Badge after completing training in air assault missions, sling-load procedures, and rappelling techniques. Sauer, who learned of the opportunity only two weeks prior, said he felt pressure to represent the entire Air Force. His prior experience included U.S. Army Ranger School, placing third in the 18-mile Norwegian Foot March, and completing the Army Best Warrior Competition. Senior Master Sgt. William Wade identified Sauer as a candidate, and Lt. Col. Sahira DeMarco praised his performance as demonstrating an elite standard.
Army TimesStaff Sergeant Becomes Only Airman in Class to Complete Army Air Assault School
Staff Sgt. Ivan Sauer, assigned to the 195th Wing Security Forces, became the only airman to graduate from the U.S. Army Air Assault School in late May, earning the Air Assault Badge. The 10-day course at Camp San Luis Obispo, California, trains service members in air assault missions, sling-load procedures, and rappelling techniques. Sauer, who learned of the opportunity only two weeks prior, said he felt intense pressure to represent the Air Force. His prior experience at Army Ranger School, a third-place finish in the 18-mile Norwegian Foot March, and completion of the Army Best Warrior Competition prepared him for the challenge. Senior Master Sgt. William Wade identified Sauer as a candidate, and Lt. Col. Sahira DeMarco praised his performance as demonstrating the elite standard of the 195th Wing defenders.
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