Joint Training

In an exchange of best practices, members of the 914th Airlift Wing train New York National Guard 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry personnel on the proper techniques in preparing equipment to be loaded into a C-130 Hercules aircraft.

The purpose of this joint training was to familiarize National Guardsmen how to weigh, measure and secure deployable equipment in the event it needs to be transported by aircraft, such as the C-130s stationed at Niagara. Exercises like this highlight the importance of interoperability between branches in a joint environment.

"This is a joint mission; we need to work with the Air Force to get our stuff where it needs to be and working jointly with the Air Force is a win-win situation," said National Guard Staff. Sgt. Timothy Jarmusz, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry. "We are here for the community it is what our mission is all about, to help and protect the community."

Equipment can be as important as people, and the ability to deploy both in a timely manner can be the difference between life and death. National Guard members stationed at Niagara were one of the first responders to 9-11.

"We work with the firefighters and police departments, a joint effort all around, not only military but civilian as well," said Jarmusz.