Naval Militia, NY Army Guard team up for fire fighting exercise in Schodack Landing on Friday, Sept. 6

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SCHODACK LANDING, NEW YORK (09/05/2024) (readMedia)-- Three New York Naval Militia patrol boats will be training alongside a New York Army National Guard helicopter dipping water from the Hudson River off Schodack island State Park as part of a fire fighting training exercise on Friday, Sept. 6.

Members of the press are invited to cover the exercise.

WHO: Seventeen members of the New York Naval Militia, a New York Army National Guard air crew, and Department of Environmental Conservation Rangers and Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation personnel and fire fighters from the Schodack Landing Fire Company.

WHAT: A New York Army National Guard UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter will use a Bambi bucket, which holds 660 gallons of water, to pick up water from the river and then release it, simulating a dump on a fire. The New York Naval Militia boats-which includes one landing craft-- will control traffic in the Hudson as part of the exercise.

WHERE: Schodack Island State Park boat launch area, 1 Schodack Island Way, Schodack Landing

WHEN: 1 p.m., Friday, Sept. 6. Recommended show time is 12:15 for interviews ahead of time and the opportunity to be on board one of the Naval Militia boats.

Media Opportunity:

Video and still photography from land or from NY Naval Militia small boat. There will be an opportunity to interview New York Naval Militia leaders.

For more information and to coordinate coverage, contact Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Stephanie Butler, 518-331-5164.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Friday's training drill is part of a three day exercise called Empire Challenge which will test the New York Naval Militia's boat operators, as well as the communications capabilities of the Naval Militia, and the New York Air National Guard, and the New York State Department Of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. The exercise scenario is based on a multi-agency response to a major wildfire.

The New York Naval Militia will deploy three boats: Naval Militia Patrol Boats 230 and 231, and LC-350, a landing craft. The landing craft can be used to deploy personnel and equipment on shore to support civil support missions.

The helicopter crews, which are based at the Albany International Airport in Latham conduct Bambi bucket training evolutions several times a year. This allows them to practice the same techniques used to extinguish wildfires. The pilots need additional practice because a helicopter has a very different feel when it is carrying 5,400 pounds of water underneath it.

DEC Forest Rangers trained in deploying helicopter fire fighting assets will also participate in the exercise.

The New York Naval Militia is composed of current Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Reserve members who agree to serve on state active duty when called by the state of New York. They put the skills they've honed in federal military service to work for New York's citizens.

A small number of Naval Militia personnel are retired military members.

Naval Militia members have responded to weather emergencies and played a significant role in the state response to the COVID 19 pandemic. Over 400 Naval Militia members have also assisted New York City in coping with the recent influx of migrants.

The Naval Militia includes the Military Emergency Boat Service, which operates a fleet of nine patrol boats which respond to state emergencies, augment law enforcement agencies and support the U.S. Coast Guard.