Photo By Lisa Crawford | A Nebraska Army National Guard UH-72 Lakota helicopter from Company A, 1-376th...... read more read more
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When Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts called up the Nebraska Army National Guard to help support Florida as Hurricane Irma battered the Sunshine State as part of an emergency management assistance compact, the Nebraska Soldiers knew this mission would be unlike anything they had done before.
On Sept. 11 about 100 Nebraska Army National Guard Soldiers – mostly from 1-376th Aviation (Security and Support) Regiment, including four UH-72 Lakota helicopters and crews – headed to Jacksonville, Florida, just as Hurricane Irma made landfall with the state.
“All elements arrived within hours of the storm’s passage and established the first aircraft and aviation headquarters capabilities aside from activated Florida National Guard teams,” said Lt. Col. Thaddeus Fineran, Nebraska state Army aviation officer.
The Nebraska National Guard team was prepared to operate in extremely austere conditions, without power, food, lodging or infrastructure.
“Fortunately, Hurricane Irma did not cause as much widespread destruction as most of the models had predicted,” Fineran said. “Had the hurricane not changed its trajectory at the last moment, our efforts here would have been focused much more on emergency evacuation. That being said, the accomplishments of the Aviation Task Force are very significant, but more from a readiness and reconnaissance standpoint versus a rescue standpoint.”
Once the Florida Army Guard task force deployed south, the Nebraska team fully integrated into the 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade, headquartered by the Kentucky Army National Guard and Florida National Guard Joint Task Force Operations, to receive CH-47 Chinook aircraft from three additional states, including Ohio, Connecticut and Minnesota.
“This capability enabled nearly all Florida Army Guard aircraft to push south to support intensive operations in the Florida Keys, while our task force managed any emerging missions in central and northern Florida,” Fineran said.
The fully-formed Task Force North, with 137 Soldiers, four UH-72 Lakota and five CH-47 Chinook helicopters, stood ready for any requirements Florida needed. The task force worked with ground teams in multiple counties to conduct search and rescue and reconnaissance operations in flooded areas along the local rivers and the I-75 corridor near Gainesville, Florida. It also supported other Joint Task Force Florida National Guard forces with equipment and personnel movements between staging bases in northern Florida and Joint Task Force locations in southern Florida.
Once on the ground at the Florida National Guard Army Aviation Support Facility No. 1 in Jacksonville, the first step when occupying an area – now knowing what infrastructure was available – was to get communications capabilities going according to the team’s pace plan, said Capt. Ryan Carlson, battalion communications officer.
“Communication is crucial to anything you do and we do it in a high-stress environment,” Carlson said. “Lack of communication can lead to mission failure and failure is not an option, especially during real-world missions like this.”
Failure wasn’t a concern for Carlson, however.
“Having just done annual training in July, and having a really good training period, I not only had a good idea of what capabilities we could provide, but a really good idea of what my personnel could accomplish, and in the timeframe they could accomplish it,” he said.
Carlson’s main concern after receiving the initial deployment warning order was to fill any gaps in his personnel, which included finding a substitute for his senior noncommissioned officer who was currently on leave following surgery.
“We’re a ready and able force,” Carlson said. “It’s good to know someone can come in and pick up with what we’re trying to do and how we want to do it. These guys train to a specific Army standard for that reason.”
Carlson filled his gaps with volunteers from other units throughout the state, including Staff Sgt. Shawn (Michael) Ronk, 1-1-34th Cavalry Squadron, who became the senior communications NCO for the mission.
“The Army is all about being able to ‘shoot, move and communicate,’” Ronk said. “Sometimes, though, we might want to think of it more as communicate, move and then shoot. It is the digital age and the military’s use of communications is what provides the efficiency to accomplish today’s missions.”
Ronk said it was easy to jump in to lead another battalion’s team due to the professionalism of the Soldiers, their “great work ethic” and enthusiastic motivation. He said the mission was great for both the Soldiers’ professional development and future readiness.
“We established connectivity for our area TOC relatively quickly with a mostly lower-enlisted team,” Ronk said. “Not only will this experience help the unit here, but in the future as the Soldiers transfer and move to other units they can share that information as they progress through the ranks.”
Another Soldier who gained valuable professional experiences while on deployment was Staff Sgt. Tony Brollini, a flight medic with the Nebraska Army National Guard’s Company G, 2-104th General Support Aviation Battalion. Brollini typically works with UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, so when he was selected to accompany the 1-376th Aviation (S&S) Regiment on the State Active Duty deployment to Florida for Hurricane Irma relief and recovery, he said he was excited for the opportunity to work with a different aircraft, the UH-72 Lakota helicopter.
“Alpha Company doesn’t have any medics assigned and the battalion only has a couple, total,” Brollini said. “Sergeant (Shawn) Humphreys and I volunteered to help keep support for the mission internal. They’ve never trained with our medics before and we’ve never flown with them before, so this opportunity allowed us to bridge that divide.”
Prior to his first mission with a Lakota, Sept. 13, Sgt. 1st Class Will Jacobsen, crew chief with Company A, 1-376th Aviation (S&S) Regiment, took some time to familiarize Brollini on proper hoist functions with the UH-72. Brollini conducted his first mission – and first flight ever – in a Lakota helicopter later that evening.
“Flying is flying,” Brollini said after his initial flight. “Obviously the aircraft is different. You’re sitting backwards and you’ve got a lot less room than what I am used to, but everything else is the same.”
Brollini said the real-world mission experience was invaluable and he has already started conversations with the unit to continue cross-training efforts in their aircraft for possible future missions.
“We’re supposed to be an expeditionary type unit where we can pick up in 24-48 hours and mobilize,” Brollini said. “I think this training enhances that.”
Brollini flew in a Lakota for the second time, Sept. 14, during another survey mission to evaluate water levels along the Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers, while ensuring flooded areas were free of stranded civilians. While conducting reconnaissance, Brollni and the other Nebraska National Guard Soldiers did notice multiple civilians in the area and ensured their well-being through friendly waves with “thumbs-up” approvals on their safety.
While there were some areas that did indicate increased water levels, the area was deemed clear of any civilians in distress.
| Date Taken: | 10.11.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 12.12.2017 10:07 |
| Story ID: | 258391 |
| Location: | LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 127 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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