The 1st Brigade of The Texas State Guard (State Defense Force) recently worked with Brown County Water Improvement District Lake Patrol Law Enforcement Division (BCWID) on a Joint Search & Rescue (SAR) Exercise. The mission featured two exercises that were based on actual events. The first exercise focused on the troops locating a couple that had fallen halfway down a dam suffering multiple fractures and injuries. The other exercise focused on another individual who had also suffered injuries from a steep fall. Once the casualties were located they were medically stabilized by medics, then utilizing a law enforcement vessel, the casualties would then be quickly transported to a nearby hospital.
The Texas State Guard has one of the most elite Search & Rescue teams in the country. They have troops trained for every environment as well as aerial and amphibious Search & Rescue situations. They are often called upon by multiple State Agencies as well as Law Enforcement for such missions.
Guardsmen from 2nd Battalion, Alpha Company, 1st Brigade, Texas State Guard conducted a Search and Rescue (SAR) exercise at Lake Brownwood in Brownwood, TX, on March 25, 2023. In partnership with the Brown County Water Improvement District Lake Patrol Law Enforcement Division (BCWID), SAR members shuttled by boat by the Brownwood Lake Patrol to an area where they conducted a search utilizing GPS and compass. The teams ran two scenarios based on actual rescue events at Lake Brownwood honing their skills in search and rescue. In this scenario, a lady fell off a cliff while overlooking the lake. Once they found her, she was stabilized and evacuated by boat to where a simulated ambulance waited. In the second scenario, a couple tumbled halfway down a dam suffering fractures and potential head injury with a third person found at the bottom of the dam. All were treated and evacuated via a simulated helicopter evacuation. The SAR program trains TXSG soldiers to assist and partners with local jurisdictions across the state in search and rescue operations.
In partnership with the Brown County Water Improvement District Lake Patrol Law Enforcement Division (BCWID), SAR guardsmen from 2nd Battalion, Alpha Company, 1st Brigade, Texas State Guard conducted a Search and Rescue (SAR) exercise at Lake Brownwood in Brownwood, TX, on March 25, 2023. Being shuttled by boat by the Brownwood Lake Patrol to an area where they conducted a search utilizing GPS and compass, the team ran two scenarios based on actual rescue events at Lake Brownwood honing their skills in search and rescue. In the scenario, a couple on top of the dam searching for fossils tumble halfway down the dam suffering fractures and a possible head injury. Three teams were involved in the search, finding a third person with critical injuries at the bottom of the dam. The other scenario a lady fell off a cliff while overlooking the lake. Once she was found, they stabilized and conducted a boat evacuation to shuttle her to where a simulated ambulance waited. All were stabilized, with a simulated helicopter evacuation transporting the critically injured person to the helicopter site. SAR teams also conducted training exercises at Lake Lavon in Collin County. The SAR program trains TXSG soldiers to assist and partners with local jurisdictions across the state in search and rescue operations.
Source: Texas State Guard
