Photo By 2nd Lt. Courtney Rorick | Nikki Gamman and K-9 Gunner, both of New England K-9 Search and Rescue, conduct noise...... read more read more
More than 150 Volunteers from Search and Rescue Teams throughout New Hampshire gathered at the base of Cannon Mountain for annual training with State Police, Fish and Game, and Army Aviation. Among those participants were eight members of the NH National Guard team.
The goal of the annual training is to build team networking, while familiarizing participants to various aspects of rescue operations such as land navigation, GPS usage, litter-carries, and hoist and aircraft safety.
Two-years in the making, the Guard's Volunteer Search and Rescue team, or NHNG VSAR, is the newest in the Granite State and on the Volunteer Council for New Hampshire.
“This is the first time we’ve trained with the New Hampshire National Guard search and rescue team,” said Lt. James Kneeland, Search and Rescue Coordinator and Supervisor of District 3 for Fish and Game. “Their background will be an asset when it comes to training moving forward.”
When asked how it felt to see the team up and running, Kneeland said he’s looking forward to seeing what the future holds.
While there is a long-standing relationship between Fish and Game and the aerial MEDEVAC units of the Army National Guard to save injured hikers, the VSAR is only now coming to fruition.
For pilots, like Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher Wareing, 238th Aviation Regiment (MEDEVAC), knowing fellow Guardsmen are on the ground as volunteers provides a level of comfort to him and his team.
“It was really exciting to land today and see Soldiers and Airmen out here, learning how to conduct these searches and providing that asset to us and our state partners,” said Wareing. “These servicemembers are going to make us more able and capable, and help us to do our part of the mission better.”
Wareing, who has conducted countless rescue missions as a prior medic and crew chief before becoming a pilot, said he feels the NHNG team can relay the information from military operations to the civilians on ground because they have the knowledge to understand what to do and where to go.
“The thing I like the most is that this team is organized,” said Kneeland, adding they understand the fundamentals of receiving an order and carrying it through. “It’s comforting to know, without question, what we tell them is going to happen.”
He added that he, too, feels because of the military training they’ve gone through, the NHNG team is starting at a higher experience and knowledge base than the average volunteer might.
Command Sgt. Maj. William Ferland, State CSM for the NHARNG and the coordinator behind the scenes for the NHNG VSAR team, emulated those feelings and excitement for the training held that day.
“Without the volunteers, we can’t make our mission,” added Kneeland. “Search and rescue is not nearly as successful without them.”
Two of the National Guard volunteers participating were Privates 1st Class Jordan Graham and James Small.
“I saw this as an opportunity to do more for individuals on a closer level,” said Small, a mechanic with the 3643rd Brigade Support Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Brigade.
Graham, a fire-fighter in his civilian career, and fire-control specialist with Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 103rd Field Artillery Regiment, agreed.
“I love New Hampshire and I love the people here,” said Small. “It’s part of my responsibility to give back to them because they’ve given me such a beautiful place to live.”
Last year alone, 4,816 volunteer hours were spent on search and rescue missions coordinated throughout the state.
“I’ve learned so much from those within my community,” said Graham. “Being able to be there for them in their time in need and knowing I can help them puts a smile on my face.”
| Date Taken: | 09.10.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 09.12.2022 09:21 |
| Story ID: | 429032 |
| Location: | FRANCONIA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, US |
| Web Views: | 357 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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