Disaster 2021: Idaho Militia & Boise FD train for swift water rescues, without water!

Idaho National Guard photo by Thomas Alvarez.

On 02NOV2021, just days before the Idaho based 116th Cavalry Brigade deployed for Kuwait, the Idaho Army National Guard teamed up with the City of Boise Fire Department to conduct swift water rescue training (specifically; hoisting victims out of the water), without water (Idaho has been in a long drought you know) for the first time!

UH-72 Lakota. Idaho National Guard photo by Thomas Alvarez.

UH-60 Black Hawk. ING photo by Thomas Alvarez.

On one corner of Gowen Field/Boise Airport (the air assault strip), militia personnel and Boise fire fighters gathered to conduct their waterless water rescue training. They used the latest in hi-tech equipment; UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, UH-72 Lakota helicopter, and a pickup truck pulling a trailer!

Mark-1 Swift Water Simulator. ING photo by Thomas Alvarez.

UH-60 Black Hawk and hi-tech Mark-1 Swift Water Simulator. Idaho National Guard photo by Thomas Alvarez.

Before pulling an actual human to ‘safety’ from a moving vehicle, they practiced with sandbags. This also helped determine a safe speed to drive the truck-trailer combo.

One by one they boarded the impromptu training device. ING photo by Thomas Alvarez.

Believe it or not, they actually referred to the fire-fighter playing the victim as the “simulated victim”! Maybe they should patent their hi-tech invention as the Mark-1 Swift Water Simulator?