Photo By Staff Sgt. Ty Stafford | A crewmember hooks up one of the MNTF-E K-9 handlers during MEDEVAC hoist training at...... read more read more
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By Ty Stafford
70th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo - It's a bird, it's a plane. It's a flying dog?
That's exactly what some people saw as the Multi-National Task Force-East K-9 unit and the Veterinarian's office linked up with a Medical Evacuation crew from Task Force Blackhorse in early October to perform hoist training on Camp Bondsteel.
For the MEDEVAC crew, this was their first time working with the dogs.
"It was a learning experience for all the crewmembers. We had to solve the problems of getting the dogs on and how to secure them and the handlers in the aircraft," said Chief Warrant Officer John Wurtz, who was one of the pilots during the training. Wurtz explained the hoist is primarily used to extract casualties, including animals out of densely wooded areas, cliffs and waterways.
"Pretty much anywhere we cannot land we will have to use a hoist for extraction," he said.
"Everyone focuses on people [during MEDEVAC] and they [the dogs] are just as important," said Maj. Dana Dobbs, MNTF-E Veterinarian. The training was important because the K-9 handlers may be required to track missing persons or assist local authorities in fugitive apprehension in densely wooded and remote areas where injuries to the handler or the dog may occur.
The hoist training was conducted in three phases: crawl, walk and run. During the crawl phase, the handlers were oriented on the UH-60 which is modified to medical evacuation configuration and became familiar with the hoist system. Once the handlers felt completely comfortable with the system they strapped themselves to the hoist and practiced entering and exiting the helicopter via the lift system.
Next, the handlers brought their dogs to the helipad and began orienting the dogs to the helicopter. Each dog was placed in the harnesses and was then hooked to the hoist by a carabineer.
The handlers took turns practicing entering the side door with their dog and how to properly unhook and move to the seated position inside the helicopter.
After a few dry runs, the MEDEVAC crew fired up the engines and each handler practiced approaching the helicopter to help the dogs get used to the whirling blades and the noise.
After completion of the approach techniques the handlers and the helicopter moved to an open field on Bondsteel to begin the actual extraction training.
During the training, the crew lifted the handlers first without their canine partner which helped acquaint them to the extraction system.
Going up without their dogs allowed the handlers to get a feel for how the system works and the effects of the wind as it spins the body while in the air.
The dogs were then brought in and each handler performed an extraction twice; the first time from a lower elevation and the second from a higher elevation.
The helicopter crew made a circular pattern around CBS after the first lift to help the dogs gradually feel more comfortable in the air.
All the crewmembers agreed that the dogs were absolutely great during the training.
"Everything went really well. It was new for all of us dealing with the canines. You can't talk to them like you would a person, so trying to situate them and anticipate how they are going to react was different," said. Staff Sgt. Clint Vervoren, a crewmember during the training.
"We had everyone's safety in mind during the training. Having the dogs just added another element to the situation," Vervoren said.
"It was a lot of fun. Here in Kosovo we have the time and resources to do this type of training," said Staff Sgt. Shaun Crouse, K-9 handler and the non-commissioned officer-in-charge.
"I thought it was outstanding. The best part of the training was we actually did the crawl, walk and run phase. I think what we identified the best during training were the bugs, so we can be more efficient the next time. I've been in for 20 years now and this was some of the best training I've ever had," Dobbs said.
All members participating in the training agreed they would like to conduct the training again when possible.
"We would definitely do it again and it would be nice for all the other crews to work with them [dogs] so everyone can get a feel for it," Vervoren said.
| Date Taken: | 11.04.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 11.04.2008 04:35 |
| Story ID: | 25878 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 392 |
| Downloads: | 274 |
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