MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- Five soldiers waited with their “injured” comrade as a helicopter flew by Landing Zone Boondocker, getting a view of the area.
Close to 100 yards behind the waiting soldiers, others were radioing the aircraft to guide it to the ground while a landing signalman stood in the field, waiting for the SH-60B Seahawk to start its landing procedures.
Behind the tree line, the distinct thumping of rotors grew louder, and finally, the helicopter came into view distinctively lower than before, skimming above the trees and sending swirls of dirt billowing away from its path as the pilots guided it down via hand signals given from a soldier.
When the chopper landed, the soldiers picked up their comrade and rushed him head first to the open side door. They then reversed him and placed him feet-first inside. Seconds later they removed him from the helicopter and traveled back to the starting point while the helicopter, guided by the soldier in front, lifted off to wait for the next group of soldiers from the 545th Transportation Battalion out of Hickam Air Force Base as they prepared themselves for the medical evacuation exercises.
More than 85 soldiers stationed at Hickam participated in the medivac exercises conducted jointly with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 37, Aug. 19 at Landing Zone Boondocker.
“We play a supporting role,” said Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Mark T. Shupe, marine engineering officer, 545th. “We are always supporting the warfighters. This training we are conducting is to increase our combat proficiency. If we run across a casualty in Iraq, our soldiers will have a prescribed method to take action.”
One of the goals of the training was to familiarize each unit with the procedures, signals and techniques for loading someone into a Seahawk for evacuation, and it provided a different approach for HSL-37.
“Normally, our exercises are water-based, but this training offers us the unique opportunity to conduct land-based operations with a fellow service,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Basham, air crewman, HSL-37. “It’s great training for everybody involved.”
The units learned the different voice communications and signals used, and the crewmen assisted the Army medics, showing them how to secure injured personnel while they’re aboard the helicopter.
"I was a little nervous because we only had about a five minute class on the hand signals before I went out there,” said Spc. Collin Wersal, watercraft operator, 545th. “It was ok, though, because they had someone out there who new what they were doing to help us.”
After a few hours of training, both sides were content with the progress they made throughout the exercise.
“The training went off without a hitch,” said Lt. Cmdr. Chris Murphy, operations officer, HSL-37. “The entire exercise was well planned, and the communication between the ground and air went smoothly. Usually that’s where these exercises have the most trouble.”
Although the exercise was the first time HSL-37 worked with the Army, they say more training could be planned later in the year.
“It took us about a month to sort everything out for this training, and it worked out quite well,” Murphy said.