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This is a critical skill for practical ladder work against real world problems. Many places still teach the chicken wing with a flat raise against the building as a standard test passing skill. The chicken wing and flat raise can be a setup for failure with many different fire ground scenarios. For example, this picture illustrates very common problems found all over the country. Balconies, large soffits, overhangs, parking garage recesses, alleys that require you to approach parallel with the building, vehicles, and many others not mentioned. These all require a beam raise out in the open, which is easily accomplished with the high shoulder carry. This throw is easily accomplished by all heights, weights and strengths of firefighters. It is almost all technique and leverage that just simply requires quality training.

Don’t just teach someone how to do a skill like the high shoulder throw, make sure you reinforce it with the why we need the skill. Find the examples in your own area and put it to the test. It guarantees you won’t ever forget why we use it and why you are teaching it. It also lets you defend your choice with real application, not just because someone said it was better.

One last advantage. The beauty of the high shoulder throw is its ability to overcome the problems shown in the picture and at the same time works in every other place that someone could have pulled off the chicken wing with a flat raise.