The United States Army
09/27/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 09/28/2024 09:04
Kentucky National Guard Tests Skills in All-Hazards Exercise
[Link] Soldiers with the 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade pose for a photo with members of the Wolfe County search and rescue team and Red Star Wilderness emergency medical services at the Disney Training Center in Artemus, Kentucky, Sept. 14, 2024. The Soldiers and the two rescue teams worked together in an all-hazards exercise to improve inoperability. (Courtesy photo) (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)VIEW ORIGINAL
DISNEY TRAINING CENTER, Ky. - The Kentucky Army National Guard 751st Troop Command conducted an all-hazards exercise Sept. 14, using all aviation companies and detachments in scenarios aimed at their most requested mission sets focused on domestic operations.
Seventy-one Soldiers participated with five UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, two UH-72 Lakota helicopters, one Light Medium Tactical Vehicle and one High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Stephen Martin, battalion commander of the 751st Troop Command, and Capt. Jacob Conner, operations officer of the 751st, said the realistic scenarios emboldened the junior leaders in the battalion to develop by decisive planning and decision-making.
Soldiers conducted operations throughout central and southeastern Kentucky, including the Red River Gorge.
Detachment 1, Charlie Company, 2-238th Aviation Medevac, conducted hoist operations during a simulated mass casualty event. Aircraft medics rendered aid to multiple "casualties."
The 238th Medevac Detachment worked with Wolfe County Search and Rescue and Red Star Wilderness EMS during multiple hoist/handoff incidents.
Search and rescue were integral to the Kentucky Army National Guard response to the eastern Kentucky floods in 2022 when over 200 Kentuckians were evacuated during rescue operations.
"This type of training not only saves lives but also accelerates recovery in the face of any crisis," said Staff Sgt. Ashley Renye, a critical care flight paramedic.
Members of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 376th Aviation, conducted surveillance and identification operations, mirroring their role in the western Kentucky tornadoes in 2021 and the 2022 floods.
The 2/147th Air Assault Helicopter Battalion conducted four internal load missions, including pickup and drop off at designated sites, and deployed buckets to suppress an active fire in support of Lexington Fire Department's Wildland Fire Group.
The 351st Bravo Company ASB conducted a downed aircraft exercise in which Soldiers deployed from Frankfort to Disney Training Center to identify faults in the Black Hawk and correct maintenance issues to get it back in the air.
The all-hazards exercise tested capabilities across the 751st Troop Command, which falls under the 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade.