Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, served as the venue for a significant multi-agency hoist symposium hosted by the Alaska Army National Guard aviators from G Company, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion from July 20-22.
The symposium united search and rescue professionals from various organizations across Alaska, including U.S. Coast Guard crews from Air Stations Kodiak and Sitka, Alaska Air National Guard Airmen from the 176th Wing’s rescue units, U.S. Army aviators from Fort Wainwright’s 1-52nd General Support Aviation Battalion, Alaska State Troopers, volunteers from the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group, and the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center.
This collaboration aimed to enhance hoist proficiency, strengthen interoperability, and improve readiness for life-saving missions crucial to navigating Alaska’s challenging terrain.
“Search and rescue in Alaska is never a one-agency job; it takes all of us working together,” stated Lt. Benjamin Endres, the Alaska State Troopers Statewide Search and Rescue coordinator.
He emphasized that training such as this fosters partnerships, ensuring that when emergencies arise, they can respond collectively as a team.
Over the three days, the symposium included classroom instruction, cold-load training, and live hoist demonstrations featuring three different aircraft: the Alaska Army National Guard’s HH-60M Black Hawk, the U.S. Coast Guard’s MH-60T Jayhawk, and the Alaska Air National Guard’s HH-60G Pave Hawk.
Participants engaged in reviewing best practices in personnel recovery, patient packaging, and rapid transfer techniques while also refining aircrew and ground coordination.
A significant advancement announced during the event was the National Guard Bureau’s authorization for the Alaska Army National Guard to conduct live hoist and emergency response training with nationally certified rescue teams set to begin in 2025.
This approval allows Army Guard aviators to collaborate with Alaska’s most skilled technical rescue volunteers, integrating military aviation and mountain rescue methods for operations in high-angle terrain, avalanche zones, and remote environments.
“The partnership with the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group provides us with the opportunity to merge technical backcountry expertise with military aviation resources,” commented Capt. Cody McKinney, an Alaska Army National Guard Black Hawk pilot and event coordinator.
He underscored that this collaboration will be vital in saving lives under Alaska’s most extreme conditions.
The symposium also prioritized the development of a statewide search and rescue radio interoperability plan, aiming to create common frequencies and standardized protocols.
This plan is designed to allow responders to communicate directly and in real-time during intricate missions.
“Communication is the backbone of every successful mission,” Master Sgt. Tanner Boyer of the 212th Rescue Squadron asserted, emphasizing the importance of refining details such as frequencies and equipment to ensure readiness when it is crucial.
Alaska records hundreds of search and rescue incidents each year, frequently occurring in harsh weather and difficult-to-access locales.
The hoist symposium and the progress made regarding military and civilian training authorizations and communication strategies represent significant advancements in strengthening partnerships for a coordinated response during critical moments.
Lt. Col. Brendon Holbrook, commander of the 207th Aviation Troop Command, remarked, “The work accomplished during this symposium strengthens our ability to respond when it matters most.”
He noted that building trust and interoperability among agencies is essential for tackling Alaska’s toughest challenges.
Organizers plan to make the hoist symposium an annual event, with future iterations including scenario-based exercises to validate joint procedures and new communication standards.
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