Story and Photos by Staff Sgt. James Toohey
JOINT BASE CAPE COD, Mass. – Soldiers with A Company, 3-126th Aviation Regiment, Massachusetts Army National Guard conducted hoist certification with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency’s (MEMA) High Aquatic Rescue Team (HART), Sept. 30, 2025. This certification helped continue a healthy working relationship between the Massachusetts Army National Guard Aviation and State agencies in preparation for any emergency.
One impactful resource the Massachusetts Army National Guard can bring to domestic operations is aviation. Massachusetts is home to two detachments of UH-60 Blackhawks. One detachment is designated for medical evacuation, and the other detachment, although not designated for medical, still trains to conduct rescue operations in case an emergency arises. No one knows when the next emergency is going to be, so training for them is a routine task for these soldiers.
“It’s important for us to have this capability with hoists,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Alex Buckley, a pilot with the 3-126th Aviation Regiment. “To rescue people that may become trapped in a location that an ambulance can’t get to or people on the ground can’t get to.”
Being able to get a helicopter into tough locations does not mean that there is a landing zone where they can land safely. This is where the training and certification in using a hoist is important. The hoist is a mechanical pulley system that is used by a crew chief to help lower a rescue technician from the HART from the helicopter.
“We’re able to take the helicopter to a location,” said Buckley. “Hoist a HART member down to the victim and repel them safely out.”
Although there are soldiers who are flight medics with the MEDVAC detachment, you can never be overprepared. This partnership with the HART and MEMA is to ensure that there are plenty of qualified personnel. With resources like larger aircraft and more pilots, the National Guard can support the needs of MEMA and the people of the commonwealth.
“Building relationships in the National Guard with the other commonwealth agencies is very important to us.” Said Buckley. “Having a strong relationship with MEMA and the HART team allows us to react to different emergencies and help them out.”
This training started during the evening and ran into the night as they train in preparation for not only daytime rescues but also nighttime. Despite the long day, Soldiers embrace this training, because this isn’t just a routine flight. There is much more purpose for it.
“When we’re doing hoist operations, it gets your blood pumping a little bit.” Said Buckley “You get excited about what you’re doing and it makes you feel like you’re doing something good.”
These soldiers are not strangers to Massachusetts. They live and work here. Although the National Guard is known traditionally for its reserve force that needs to be called in, a considerable amount of the aviation is working full time as pilots, mechanics, and other logistical roles to maintain and fly the helicopters. This means there are full time members who are always ready for a mission when the time comes. This makes the purpose of their mission personal and motivates them.
“It’s really important to me,” said Buckley. “Because I don’t know if I’m going out there to rescue my neighbor or somebody in my family that gets into a bad spot.
Building and maintaining partnerships is more than just being professional. It’s about being ready to save lives when needed and being prepared to handle any task when called upon. The soldiers embrace their roles and look forward to training with MEMA and the HART. Beyond the traditional reserve force, the National Guard continues to be available with full time members for when we are needed most and to support our partner agencies to accomplish their missions.
