Pa. National Guard conducts helicopter orientation for emergency responders

ST MARYS, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Army National Guard conducted a helicopter orientation training event for emergency responders Aug. 26 at the St. Marys Municipal Airport.
About 80 firefighters and rescue personnel from several fire companies in the communities surrounding the airport and the Guard’s regional flight routes attended the unique training experience.
St. Marys is situated along common flight paths for aircraft operating out of the Army Aviation Support Facility No. 2 in nearby Johnstown. Because Pennsylvania Army National Guard helicopters are a frequent sight in the skies over the region, it is critical that local first responders are prepared should they ever need to answer an aviation emergency.
“The safety of our aircrews and the communities we fly over is our absolute top priority,” said Col. Michael Girvin, Pennsylvania National Guard state Army aviation officer, who addressed the attendees. “This collaborative training ensures that if the unthinkable ever happens, our local emergency personnel have the hands-on knowledge and confidence to act swiftly.
“We rely heavily on these strong community partnerships, and we are grateful for the dedication of everyone who came out today,” Girvin added.
Building on that strategic partnership, the event provided local departments with critical technical knowledge.
“Our primary goal today is to familiarize local departments with our airframes, their specific capabilities, and the unique hazards they present,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Danielle J. Watkins, aviation safety officer for the AASF No. 1 (located at Fort Indiantown Gap) and the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade. “Because we operate frequently out of Johnstown and Fort Indiantown Gap and fly over communities such as these all across the commonwealth, we want these responders to be fully confident and prepared if they are the first to arrive on the scene.”
The event provided an opportunity to build working relationships between the military and community partners. Attendees received up-close, hands-on experience with the three primary helicopters in the PAARNG inventory: the CH-47 Chinook, UH-60 Black Hawk and UH-72 Lakota.
Civilian fire and rescue personnel would likely be the first to arrive if an aircraft were involved in an emergency landing outside a military installation. Understanding the structural layout and composite materials of the helicopters is essential for saving lives and protecting the responders, Watkins said.
“We want them doing a complete walk-around and physically climbing inside the aircraft,” Watkins said. “It is vital they get hands-on experience locating emergency exits, fuel cells, and battery compartments, while understanding exactly where they can expect to find the aircrew and passengers.”
Not many people have an opportunity to become familiar with military aircraft, which makes events like this unique.
“Before today I wasn’t familiar with military helicopters at all; I’ve never been around them,” said Ben Joveniti, a volunteer firefighter from Johnsonburg Fire Department. “So, seeing them up close and personal is a very great opportunity.”
One of the great benefits the National Guard offers the nation is that its members quite often live and work in the communities where they serve. In many cases, Guard members also serve as civilian first responders, naturally bridging the gap between the military and local emergency services.
“I think [this event] definitely boosts confidence,” said Victoria Challingsworth, with St. Marys’ Elkland Search and Rescue. “As a search and rescue organization we might be the first people on the scene should something go down in Allegheny National Forest, Quehanna Wild Area or other remote locations, so this makes you feel more prepared.”
The training helped first responders gain a greater understanding of the complex challenges associated with aviation incidents, ensuring they are ready to act safely and effectively during a crisis.

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