185th Airmen train Kosovo partners in new equipment

  • Published
  • By Capt. Jeremy J. McClure
  • 185th ARW PA
Pomosoztin, Kosovo --  Airmen from the Iowa National Guard provided training in the use of new lightweight shoring equipment to members of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) Civil Protection Unit.

"The equipment can be used to shore up a leaning wall or a ceiling that is about to collapse," said Master Sergeant Ryan Baker, a member of the Iowa Air National Guard's 185th Air Refueling Wing's Fire Protection Service.

The new equipment is used in place of traditional wood methods of shoring which takes longer to put in place.

"It takes at least 20 minutes to shore a wall using wood," explained Baker. "Someone versed in this system can construct it in 5 minutes."

"It is much faster," said Pvt. Denh Hameli, a member of the KSF Civil Protection Unit. "This equipment will be very helpful in getting to people who need rescued faster."

Baker provided instruction to the Kosvars on use of the equipment while in Kosovo as part the Eagle V exercise which provides KSF the opportunity to train with the Iowa National Guard, NATO forces, U.S. Army Security Advisory Mentorship Training Organization and U.S. Army Europe in order to support the KSF mission of maintaining a safe and secure Kosovo.

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