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Soldiers of the 1-181st Field Artillery Regiment, based out of Chattanooga, Tennessee, partnered with Tennessee State Park Rangers during a ground search and rescue exercise Oct. 27 through Oct. 29 at the Volunteer Training Site Tullahoma. The units evaluated their ability to work together during a practical scenario involving a downed aircraft.
Every year, almost 600,000 people go missing in the United States alone. Frequently, these incidents occur when a person ventures into the country’s magnificent natural areas, which range from the wide-open deserts of the southern states to the enormous mountain forests of the Pacific Northwest. Nearly 400 persons in Tennessee go missing annually, according to the authorities. That equates to five persons per 100,000.
“Our goal is to, in the event of an actual scenario where we would be working with the Guard, we want that inter agency cooperation to work together and be able to understand our roles in a search event so that we can work together in the future,” said Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) district coordinator, Sierra Morris.
The Soldiers worked in teams with rangers and members of TEMA to conduct grid searches through wooded terrain during a ground search and rescue drill.
1st Lt. John Craine, the M6 officer of the 1st Battalion, 181st Field Artillery Regiment, emphasized the importance of interoperability and the importance of reporting all clues to the Incident Command in order to make sure that we can find those that are lost.
“We’ve been on line, stating if we’ve found any objects, or seeing any movement or people pointed up,” said Craine, “You know, seeking the mission and trying to find any people that are lost out here.”
Soldiers of Fox Troop, 2nd Squadron of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment paired with Tennessee State Parks members were able to aid in the search from above by providing an RQ-11 Raven unmanned aerial vehicle and a Small Unmanned Aircraft System, commonly known as a drone. As the ground teams call up their clues to Incident Command, the aerial support team could provide additional support in order to help find potential casualties quickly.
“The overall goal is really to make sure that we can actually find them alive, well, and back home to their families,” said Craine.
In reference to this particular situation, it would be unfortunate if something similar occurred in the event of an airplane disaster, but that is exactly the reason we are preparing for it, says Gardner. “When you go out and you’re exploring the wilderness, make sure that you have a plan. Know what you’re doing, make sure you know what you’re getting yourself in for, make sure that you’re able to carry out your plan, and if something were to happen, make sure you have an emergency plan in place.”
As the search and rescue exercise comes to a close, the soldiers of the 1-181st Field Artillery Regiment and the Tennessee State Park Rangers have demonstrated the importance of interagency cooperation in a practical scenario. With their skills honed and their teamwork on display, these units stand ready to respond to any emergency situation that may arise in Tennessee. Through their dedication and commitment, they work tirelessly to ensure that every missing person is found and returned to their loved ones. Remembering the importance of proper planning and preparation, we can all do our part to stay safe while enjoying the great outdoors.
| Date Taken: | 10.29.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 11.21.2023 08:46 |
| Story ID: | 456743 |
| Location: | TULLAHOMA, TN, US |
| Web Views: | 11 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Soldiers and Park Rangers Conduct Joint Search and Rescue Exercise in Tennessee, by SGT Kalina Hyche, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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