[MilCom] Local MEDEVAC Company Receives Further Training from Irish

[GrayGhost]

by Kevin MacDonald


Kansas National Guard soldiers, along with fellow peacekeepers from New
Mexico are linking up with Irish MEDEVAC personnel.

The troops are conducting hoist training.

The hoist is used to extract people or equipment when helicopter landings
are not an option.

"Today we trained the Irish on the hoist, on the high performance hoist,
what we use that for is picking people out of minefields, we'll use it for
mountain rescue or like high water rescue."

Knowing key information about the hoist and its capabilities can go a long
way in a stressful situation

"Each group has their own specific qualities and training level, we try to
bring everybody together on the same sheet so that they know how we would
react in a situation and we know how they are going to react in a situation
and we know how they are going to react."

The Kansas soldiers have trained with five different countries so far.
Also the group has personally responded to five medevac calls.

"It's not everyday you're able to go and pick somebody up that's hurt or
injured whether it be an adult or child, it gives you a good feeling."

Being apart of such an important team is not easy, stress from the everyday
ins and outs of the job can take its toll, but the Kansas MEDEVAC soldiers
credit their success to family and employer support.

"They stood by me 100 percent, they're the best."

The Kansas Guardsmen are expected to return home in March.

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