SOUTH CAROLINA
SOUTH DAKOTA
South Dakota Guard firefighters train before deploying
crew coordination was paramount to their success in responding to the incident.
“The CTE is more fast-paced with real-world scenarios than the training we have done in the past because we’re mobilizing for deployment,” said Spc. Cameron Singletary, firefighter with 548 Firefighter Engineer Detachment, USAR. “It’s surreal since this is my first deployment, and so far, it’s been all positive experiences. First Army OC/Ts not only helped me fine-tune firefighting tactics and procedures but also encouraged me to pursue tuition assistance for academic advancement while deployed on my spare time.” Soldier firefighters train to perform rescue and firefighting opera- tions during structural fires, aircraft crashes, vehicle emergencies and natural cover fires. “We are evaluating a building inspection and pre-fire plan modules for today’s training exercise,” said Michael Fritz, assistant chief of training, WSMR Fire Department. “It’s a full fire inspection, just like an inspector would go in and do for any other kind of occupan- cy, and then pre-plans for the response of the fire crews, which increases their ability to save lives.” WSMR Fire Department and TF Thunder, 3-410th BEB, have a long- standing training relationship preparing firefighters for deploy- ment. “For the past nine years, we’ve assisted TF Thunder on validating firefighting, aircraft, vehicle fires, the industrial pipeline fires, structural fires, search and rescue, smoke field environment tactics, hazmat responses to include tank rollovers, rail car responses, and live fires,” Fritz said. Each firefighter serves an integral role in the larger picture. They will take with them to Europe their knowledge of standard oper- ating procedures shared throughout the past year and during this CTE.
“As I flew the aircraft, I had Mr. Painter monitor the instruments and cautions panel for any potential lights. Crew chiefs were busy scanning for nearby landing locations just in case the situation worsened as well as monitored our instruments,” he said. Ultimately, the crew executed a smooth landing at a small airport approximately 10 minutes away. Wallace attributed the recovery to teamwork and an experienced bond. “Our particular crew had just returned from a yearlong deployment to Sinai, so our crew mix was superior. We had worked well togeth- er and understood each other’s capabilities,” he said. Army Col. John McElveen, commander of the South Carolina Na- tional Guard’s 59th Aviation Troop Command, expressed pride for the aviators’ expertise. “All our aviators train hard every day in some of the most challeng- ing and realistic environments we can put them in,” said McElveen. “The fact that this crew not only reacted with the utmost care and safety of the entire aircrew and aircraft in mind is a testimony to their professionalism.” That safety mindset — the idea that the aircrew was doing the right thing before the incident — is one McElveen pointed to as an impressive indicator of the culture in his South Carolina unit. “They were all wearing their Aviation Life Support Equipment properly. Visor down is one of the most important in this case. If the pilot had not had his visor in the down position, he most likely would have suffered severe injury to his eyes and possibly lost con- trol of the aircraft,” said McElveen. “Aircrews that do the right thing before an accident are always more likely to handle the situation better when something goes wrong.“ After surviving the harrowing ordeal, Wallace’s advice to com- manders and senior enlisted members, even those outside of aviation, is to train for real-world scenarios. “Keep the critical and creative thinking in the process and not only talk about these things in the formations but go out, train, and don’t be afraid to fail,” he said. “That way, when something as sim- ple as a bird strike or something more critical or catastrophic does happen, training takes over and there would be a less stressful environment to respond.”
By Sgt. Raquel Birk 5th Armored Brigade | APRIL 6, 2023
WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. – Members of the South Da- kota Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserves trained for the past year to team up with 5th Armored Brigade observer, coach, trainers and White Sands Missile Range firefighters for a culminat- ing training exercise March 17-28 before deploying overseas. “We’re deploying with the 216th Firefighter Command,” said 1st Lt. Christian Trainor, firefighter with the 216th Firefighter Engineer Detachment (Firefighter Team), South Dakota Army National Guard. “We’re going to be overseeing three units from [Houston,] Texas, and one from Boston. We do everything from firefighting to making sure everything’s up to code for buildings and electrical.” As tactical experts in firefighting, first aid and rescue procedures, Soldiers with the 216th FED, ARNG, and firefighter engineer de- tachments with the 416th Engineer Command (Firefighter Team), USAR out of Houston will assume the fire protection of aviation as- sets, facilities, and installations mission throughout the European Theater in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The CTE is the last stop before heading overseas, a final evaluation led by WSMR trainers, and observer, coach, trainers with Task Force Thunder, 3rd Battalion, 410th Engineer Regiment, 5th Armored Brigade, First Army Division West. The trainers assessed the unit’s ability to give first aid to injured personnel, respond to hazardous materials incidents, inspect buildings and equipment for fire hazards, and brief fire protection procedures. “One of the goals of the CTE is to give Soldiers the knowledge and confidence they need to safely and effectively execute their mis- sion overseas,” said Sgt. 1st Class Aaron M. Morris, firefighter OC/T with TF Thunder, 3-410th Brigade Engineer Battalion. “From Day One to now, their confidence level and cohesion increased vastly. We have U.S. Army active-duty OC/Ts and installation firefighters working together with the South Dakota ARNG and USAR from Houston, embodying the total force partnership needed to get everyone on the same page.”
SC Aviators use experience, training to survive bird strike
By Air Force Master Sgt. Amber Monio National Guard Bureau | JUNE 13, 2023
MCENTIRE JOINT NATIONAL GUARD BASE, S.C. - “Bird!” A single word shouted in the cockpit of the UH-60L Black Hawk carrying four South Carolina National Guard aviators June 1 as they con- ducted a routine training mission over Lake Marion. A single word that potentially saved the lives of those onboard just before the feathered foe collided with their aircraft in the air. The heart-stopping moment allowed the pilot in command, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Henry Wallace, a UH-60 standardization pilot with A Company, 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation Regiment, half a second to initiate a climb, he said. The bird, later identified as an osprey, struck the windshield of the aircraft on the right side where it remained lodged, creating a gris- ly scene for the co-pilot, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brandon Painter, who alerted crew members just before impact. “There is no real emergency printed for this type of scenario,” Wallace said. “However, our first instinct was to look at the aircraft instruments. I was on the flight controls and as a crew, we deter- mined we still had control.”
His last bit of advice: “Return your crew safely.”
The Army total force participates in realistic, flexible training to enhance combat-credible land forces.
Wallace, who was evaluating Painter on low-level combat maneu- vers and a mock hurricane response scenario that morning, said
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