Fort Drum Soldiers Conduct Helicopter Jump Training Over St. Lawrence River

Go Back to News and Updates
  • Fort Drum Soldiers Conduct Helicopter Jump Training Over St. Lawrence River

    Fort Drum, New York Helocast training, a key exercise simulating combat entrance circumstances, included over 70 troops from Fort Drum jumping off of helicopters into the St. Lawrence River. The United States Coast Guard was also present for this exciting training exercise, which provided an all-encompassing setting for improving the troops' self-assurance and ability to plan.

    Training commander Maj. Rachael Jeffcoat stressed the significance of this simulation in boosting military morale and preparing it for actual combat. The addition of the U.S. Coast Guard to the combined training operation increased the complexity and realism of the exercise.

    Interestingly, the men of the second brigade engineer battalion were the ones taking part in this high-stakes training in addition to the infantry. Their participation demonstrated how Helocast training can be used in situations outside of infantry combat. For further context, Major Jeffcoat said, "Ultimately, it's simply a strategy that we utilize to inject ourselves into areas of operation."

    On its first flight route, the Chinook chopper flew directly over an Uncle Sam Boat Tour, giving those on board a rare glimpse of the training exercise. Soldiers' training gained more attention from the public thanks to the dramatic image of them jumping out of helicopters and into the St. Lawrence River.

    There is an obvious benefit to having the St. Lawrence River so near to Fort Drum, as the major pointed out. Fort Drum's geography provides a one-of-a-kind training setting, even though identical exercises are undertaken at other military facilities. To practice for such challenges, she said, "We're incredibly lucky at Fort Drum to have such distinct terrain."

    Maj. Jeffcoat expressed appreciation to the local community for their patience and tolerance throughout these training activities and emphasized the significance of maintaining cordial relations between the military installation and the surrounding villages.

    In order to prepare for any circumstances that may arise during actual operations, troops jumped from helicopters at the height of around 10 feet as part of the Helocast training exercise. Such drills are crucial to ensuring that soldiers are ready and capable of carrying out high-stakes operations.

    The involvement of the U.S. Coast Guard enhanced interdepartmental coordination, providing an opportunity for service members to hone their abilities in tandem with members of other armed services. Training on how to work together in the event of an emergency is something that should never be overlooked.

    Recent Helocast training over the St. Lawrence River is just one example of Fort Drum's dedication to keeping its personnel in top fighting shape. Such drills are crucial to making sure soldiers can properly react to a variety of situations as tensions rise throughout the globe.

    Finally, the Helocast training across the St. Lawrence River highlighted the professionalism and commitment of the Fort Drum soldiers. They are still a strong force, ready to guard and defend the country whenever they are needed because of their capacity to adapt and thrive in difficult circumstances.

    Find the source from the following link:

    https://americanmilitarynews.com/2023/09/fort-drum-soldiers-train-helicopter-jumps-on-st-lawrence-river/