A Company, 3rd Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment, Delaware National Guard added wildfire training to their weapons qualifications so they could best utilize training time at Fort A.P. Hill.

    The buckets are transported to ponds located across the installation and are dipped to approximately 90 percent capacity. After the buckets are filled, they are transported to drop areas located throughout Fort A.P. Hill. Air crews aboard the Blackhawk aircrafts are able to command drop the entire contents of the bucket with pinpoint accuracy.

    Filled buckets have an approximate weight of 5400lbs when filled to capacity, according to Chief Warrant Dave Dale, a Delaware National Guardsman and pilot currently training in this mission. The aircraft is capable of lifting far greater amounts but weather and fire specific challenges reduce the lift capabilities of the aircraft, added Dale. The unit is equipped with the buckets that are specifically designed for deployment with the Blackhawk UH-60L model aircraft, the ones being used by the Delaware National Guard.

    “The National Guard has a dual mission. We are here training on our primary mission, our federal mission, which in this case is door gunnery”, said Dale. “Providing assistance to our state has always been a secondary mission and so we planned far in advance to make the most of our time here at Fort A.P. Hill.” The training was scheduled well in advance of the current wildfires impacting the nation, but Dale acknowledges the training they are now receiving COULD have an immediate impact. Dale is quick to point out the Delaware National Guard and his unit has not received any alert to deploy for a fire fighting mission right now.

    Dale and others in the unit offered an appreciation to Fort A.P. Hill and the surrounding areas for providing an environment to train on this mission. “We can’t get the same training conditions that we may see in a fire unless we train under conditions identical to where a fire may occur”, said Dale.