AUSTIN, Texas - A thick cloud of cool white mist rose from the lake surface as a gigantic twin-rotor CH-47 Chinook transport helicopter glided 10 feet overhead and disgorged its load of troops into the murky water below.
One by one, the water-logged Soldiers bobbed to the surface as the helicopter lumbered away. They swam to an awaiting Zodiac F-470 rubber boat where they floundered in and quickly sped off to a distant island. Their mission was to rescue more than 20 elderly nursing home patients and staff members who were stranded by high flood waters for the last four days without food and water after a major hurricane had struck.
The scenario recalls the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the coastal areas of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana Aug. 29, 2006, especially the city of New Orleans, but it is actually a joint training exercise performed in the heart of Texas to prepare for the next major storm.
The Soldiers are assigned to the Texas Army National Guard's 36th Infantry Division, 143rd Long Range Surveillance Detachment (Airborne), based at Camp Mabry. They are getting ready for the hurricane season as they conduct hurricane preparedness training with aviators of the division's 149th Aviation Battalion and the Republic of Singapore Air Force. Based in Grand Prairie, Texas, the Singaporeans assisted with Katrina's relief efforts.
Capt. Matthew H. Peritte, of Austin, and commander of the detachment, explained that the training his Soldiers are performing is a culmination of three months of hurricane preparedness drills that involve medical tasks, waterborne operations and infiltration and exfiltration methods.
Captain Peritte said that “helocasting” is an insertion method specifically designed for a wartime mission but explained that it can be applied to natural disaster situations much like those presented by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, where massive flooding is involved.
The captain noted that the unit can be readily deployable with all their equipment to any part of the state within 48 hours, if needed, and added that the water training is a refreshing change for many of his Soldiers who recently returned from a year-long deployment to Iraq.
Captain Peritte also pointed out that all the Soldiers in the unit are trained combat lifesavers and a majority of them possess civilian life-saving training and skills they can use in an emergency situation.
"We have a lot of real-world experience that we can draw from within the members of the unit who are civilian paramedics, firefighters and law enforcement officers," Captain Peritte said.
Sgt. 1st Class Shane T. Ruppel, the detachment sergeant, acknowledged that a lot of preparation and rehearsal go into this type of training exercise because of the hazards associated with air and water operations.
The Houston resident emphasized that safety is paramount in the dangerous job they perform and that all the Soldiers are constantly reminded they have a moral responsibility to apply and enforce the safety standards at all times.
The senior noncommissioned officer said all the Soldiers in the unit have to complete the Marine Corps Class 1 swim test where they must swim 500 meters in their uniform, carry a 10-pound weight for 25 meters, and tread water for five minutes before they are allowed to board the boats or helocast.
Sergeant Ruppel said they like to train for their combat mission, but it is also good to know that they may be called on to use their military training to help their fellow Texans during a natural disaster and do something that makes a positive difference for someone.
"It's definitely an added benefit for our Soldiers to be able to train with our Singaporean ally on this type of rescue mission that will benefit both the people of the U.S. and the people of Singapore," Sergeant Ruppel said.
During the intense training in the triple-digit heat, Spc. Robert M. Dupalo, of San Marcos, Texas, jumped out of a moving helicopter into the cool water and swam 25 feet to reach his boat. Then he had to face role-players portraying angry civilians who have to be treated for their injuries and evacuated.
"It's pretty stressful with everybody yelling at you but you have to take into consideration the situation and their feelings and be sensitive to it," Specialist Dupalo explained.
The specialist, who participated in Hurricane Rita recovery, said it's always a great feeling to be able to help other people in need, but helping people who live within their community makes it even more rewarding.
"It makes me feel good to know that I am doing the job that I was trained to do and at the time knowing that I am helping other people and making a difference... That's what it's all about."