Saving lives in the sky – YPG trains for mid-air trouble
Soldiers get hands-on rescue training with life-like scenario - News 11's Arlette Yousif reports
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Yuma Training Center at Yuma Proving Ground's (YPG) week-long training wraps up with soldiers jumping out of a helicopter and working through a parachute malfunction and an injured jumper -- but don't worry, it's all staged.
While YPG is often used to train soldiers and equipment for deployment, it's also used to enhance rescue efforts on YPG itself, due to its massive span of desert land. Anything can happen, even during training.
“This is always trying to train realistic as possible because [if] something should happen for real, then we want to be ready for that and that’s what this exercise paints a picture for. Not only my branch chief but bottom line, the YTC commander here on YPG,” says Joe Castillo YPG Test Parachutes Program Manager.
The Army and civilians worked side by side throughout the process.
"Like a well-oiled machine, we work together. We work with the DZSO making sure that the lines of communication are open and everybody knows what's going on. We have situational awareness," explains U.S. Army Medic Staff Sgt. Ahmed Elinbabi.
The three-hour simulation was possible thanks to a week-long training course involving rescue equipment and standard protocol procedures.
"Specifically this scenario, I’ve seen quite a few times. A jumper comes in, hard landing, femur fracture. Basically, you know, it’s by the book. We do everything we can to stabilize that and take care of it," says Staff Sgt. Ahmed Elinbabi.
You can never be too prepared to save a life.
"We’re all brothers and sisters here. We all look out for each other. We all care for each other and seeing somebody not get up is one of the scariest things you can see on the drop zone," explains Staff Sgt. Ahmed Elinbabi.
While everyone involved knew it was a training simulation, some did not know there would be an injury… making the simulation as realistic as possible.
