The Gem State Guardian - Spring 2011 - Keep Trees

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An HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter from the 305th Rescue Squadron practices extraction of a downed aviator at the Orchard Training Area, February 2011. Idaho Soldiers played the role of the downed aviators. 16 The Guardian Story and photo by Lt. Col. Douglas Smith, commander, 1/183th Battalion Without question, the Idaho Air and Army National Guard have some of the most enviable training areas and facilities in the United States. Not only are the training areas and facilities superb, but what makes them even more appealing is the close proximity to an established base like Gowen Field. With a fully functional multipurpose range complex able to accommodate multiple weapon systems, employed either as a single entity or in a complex joint operation, units outside of Idaho are discovering the unique training opportunities we offer.
For example, Air Force Reserve units like the 34th Weapons Squadron out of Nellis AFB in Nevada and the 305th Rescue Squadron out of Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona have become repeat visitors to Idaho for several years. These two organizations find it well worth their while to make the trip here, bringing a whole assortment of resources and capabilities not found in Idaho. Units like A Company/168th and 1/183rd ARB are reaping the benefits from these units almost on a weekly basis, and in turn, are reaching new levels of proficiency and mission readiness. The common themes and feedback often heard by all visiting units is the exceptional support offered by Idaho units and facilities, the ease by which to request and occupy training areas, aerial and ground weapon ranges that afford numerous means of employment, the capacity to replicate battlefield-like conditions found currently in support of overseas contingency operations and a variety of Idaho units willing to capitalize on opportunities to train in combined and joint operations. That was the case recently between the 305th Rescue Squadron and Idaho aviators who took full advantage of personnel recovery training in February. Although the 305th Rescue Squadron’s primary training event was to conduct annual door gunnery qualification, the means by which they conduct their qualification demands a whole host of additional players, resources, and extremely realistic scenarios like that found in current theaters of combat. Role players of all sorts were immersed into the scenarios like Idaho’s Installation Support Unit, the “Red Platoon,” for pyrotechnic support; the 304th Rescue Squadron Pararescue Jumpers, also known as “PJs”; and pilots and aircrew members of the 1/183rd ARB and A Company/168th. Typical scenarios occurred day and night by which 305th Rescue Squadron HH-60 Pave Hawks carrying PJs would descend upon an area in the Orchard Training Area for a downed aviator situation. On the ground, Idaho aviators were required to mark their positions by various means, verify their identity through code words and authentication processes, and wait for the rescue situation to unfold. The 305th Rescue Squadron’s initial efforts went toward impressively clearing the area with live ordinance from their 7.62 mini-guns firing at a rate of 2000 to 6000 rounds per minute. This was soon followed by PJs conducting fast rope insertion off the HH-60s in order to establish a perimeter of security and attend to Idaho aviators and aircrew members simulating combat wounds. While all of this was occurring, pyrotechnics created the fog of war and replicated the sights and sounds of the battlefield. All the events culminated with the HH-60s swooping in overhead, establishing a high hover, and extracting all personnel by means of a hoist—end of mission. The personnel recovery training received prior to previous Idaho aviation deployments was woefully inadequate and pales in comparison to what was experienced during this exercise. The lack of preparedness or understanding of personnel recovery operations by Idaho aviators will not be repeated in the future due in large part to our ability to train with these outside entities. The silver lining with this training event undeniably can be traced back to the quality of Idaho training areas, ranges, facilities, and willingness of the Idaho National Guard to accommodate outside units who bring unique training opportunities which better prepares us to be combat ready and conduct our state and federal missions. SPrinG 2011 17
Page 1: IN THIS ISSUE U.S. Rep. Labrador vi
Page 4 and 5: 2 The Guardian
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The Gem State Guardian - Spring 2011 - Keep Trees

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