185th Airmen train Kosovo partners in new equipment

Mater Sgt. Ryan Baker and Technical Sgt. Alan Pick, Iowa National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing, instruct members of the Kosovo Security Forces Civil Protection unit on how to their new lightweight aluminum shoring equipment on October 21, 2016 at their base in Pomosoztin, Kosovo. Training on use of the equipment was provided by the Guardsmen during 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. (U.S Air National Guard photo by Capt. Jeremy J. McClure)

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185th Airmen train Kosovo partners in new equipment

Technical Sgt. Alan Pick, Iowa National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing, watches members of the Kosovo Security Forces Civil Protection unit construct their new lightweight aluminum shoring equipment used to stabilize collapsing walls on October 21, 2016 at their base in Pomosoztin, Kosovo. Training on use of the equipment was provided by the Guardsmen during 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. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Capt. Jeremy J. McClure)

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185th Airmen train Kosovo partners in new equipment

Published Nov. 6, 2016
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.