An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | May 26, 2021

Pennsylvania helicopter crews practice using water buckets

By Brad Rhen, Joint Force Headquarters - Pennsylvania National Guard

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Pennsylvania National Guard helicopter crews conducted water bucket training May 11 at Fort Indiantown Gap.

Crews in UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters filled their water buckets at Memorial Lake State Park and dumped them in Fort Indiantown Gap's training corridor between Blue and Second mountains.

The Black Hawks were from the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site and the Chinook was from the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, both based at Fort Indiantown Gap's Muir Army Airfield.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Alan E. Steinman, one of the pilots, said the training was very beneficial.

"The benefit of having current and qualified water bucket crews is to support the Fort Indiantown Gap Fire Department and the Forestry office in the event of a fire that requires aviation support on property under the jurisdiction of local agencies," said Steinman, who is a UH60 flight instructor. "Although it is rare, aviation assets have participated in water bucket operations for fires in the restricted area."

Water bucket operations are not difficult to become qualified in, Steinman said, but high-level proficiency comes with experience.

"We are not very experienced at the EAATS in fighting actual fires but conduct training regularly in the event we are needed," he said.

In addition to the aircrews, representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs' Forest Management Section, the Fort Indiantown Gap fire and police departments, and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of State Parks took part in the training.

Water bucket training traditionally has taken place a minimum of twice a year, Steinman said.

"This most recent training involving the fire department and air to ground communications at the drop site was the most involved training we have conducted up to this point and was very beneficial," he said. "Realistic scenario-based training is the best type to prepare for the real thing."

JD Lambrinos, forest program manager for the DMVA's Forest Management Section, said water bucket training is valuable for prescribed fire implementation and wildfire response.

"They can be used to strengthen control lines, put out hot spots or be used in areas inaccessible to ground resources such as unexploded ordnance areas," he said. "Biannual training is critical to being able to use these resources efficiently and effectively should the need arise."

 

 

Related Articles
Soldiers from the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team train on upgraded Stryker vehicles March 26, 2025, at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa. As part of a program to modernize the 56th SBCT, the brigade is receiving 324 upgraded Strykers.
56th SBCT Soldiers Train on Upgraded Strykers
By Brad Rhen, | March 28, 2025
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Soldiers from the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team have begun training on upgraded Stryker vehicles.As part of a program to modernize the 56th SBCT, the brigade is receiving 324 upgraded Strykers...

Members of the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 3rd Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team inspect the outside of a suspected drug lab during a training exercise Feb. 7, 2025, at the Lancaster County Public Safety Training Center in Landisville, Pa.
Pennsylvania Guard Civil Support Team Polishes Skills
By Brad Rhen, | Feb. 13, 2025
LANDISVILLE, Pa. - Soldiers and Airmen from the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 3rd Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team trained Feb. 3-7 at the Lancaster County Public Safety Training Center.After four days of...

U.S. Air Force Capt. Steven Thompson, left, and Tech. Sgt. Carlos Patino, assigned to Detachment 1, Medical Group, 193rd Special Operations Wing, Pennsylvania National Guard, perform lifesaving techniques on simulated patients during a mass casualty exercise at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Feb. 7, 2025. These Airmen completed an inaugural two-week training program, which is a new partnership between the National Guard and MSHMC, where participants learn how to respond effectively in emergencies and combat situations.
Pennsylvania Guardsmen Graduate New Hospital Partnership Program
By Maj. Travis Mueller, | Feb. 11, 2025
HERSHEY, Pa. – Three Airmen with the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 193rd Special Operations Wing are the inaugural graduates of a new program and partnership between Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and the...