Maine National Guard, Coast Guard strengthen search and rescue partnership through joint training

AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine National Guard and U.S. Coast Guard conducted a joint search and rescue training exercise Oct. 7, simulating a search for a missing kayaker at Acadia National Park to strengthen coordination between the two organizations and improve emergency response capabilities.

The exercise tested the process from initial notification through search execution, including contacting the Maine National Guard’s operations center, developing a search plan and conducting an aerial search of the simulated incident area.

The training was part of an ongoing effort to build a stronger working relationship between the organizations, allowing personnel to establish procedures and become familiar with each other’s capabilities before responding to an actual emergency.

“The faster we can get response on scene, the better it is,” said Lt. Cmdr. Ramon Marion, emergency management force readiness chief for Coast Guard Sector Northern New England and a search and rescue mission coordinator. Marion said the Coast Guard’s Air Station Cape Cod provides aviation support across several sectors, but its distance from Maine can mean a two- to three-hour response time, depending on weather conditions. The Maine National Guard’s proximity and familiarity with the state’s terrain make it a valuable partner when additional aviation support is needed.

“Maine Guard is closer and knows the territory better,” Marion said.

Through the partnership, the Coast Guard can request assistance from Maine National Guard aviation assets when circumstances warrant, expanding the resources available to support search and rescue operations. “As we are trying to save lives, limbs, or property, we can provide that assistance,” said Col. Nate Arnold, the Maine National Guard’s state aviation officer.

The exercise provided an opportunity for aircrews and mission coordinators to work through the practical details of a coordinated search. During the simulated mission, pilots and crew members assessed appropriate flight altitudes and search speeds to maximize their ability to visually locate the missing kayaker while following the established search plan.

Marion said the exercise went well, particularly in the execution and tracking of the search. The aircrew adjusted its approach to determine the most effective conditions for visually searching the area.

“The pilots and search crew determined what was an appropriate altitude and search speed for them to effectively look at the area,” Marion said. “As far as executing the search plan and the manner in which we track it, it was done perfectly.”

For the Maine National Guard, the training also provided an opportunity to apply aviation capabilities in a mission directly connected to supporting the state and its residents.

Maine’s extensive coastline and maritime environment present unique search and rescue challenges. Arnold said the Guard has aircraft and personnel capable of supporting operations beyond its traditional training missions, but opportunities to practice those skills alongside local partners are important to maintaining readiness.

Working with the Coast Guard gives Maine National Guard aviators a chance to train in a realistic operational setting while developing the relationships and procedures needed for an actual emergency.

Arnold said that kind of training is especially valuable for traditional, or M-Day, pilots, who balance military service with civilian careers and typically conduct military training on a part-time basis.

Rather than simply flying a prescribed training route, crews can practice coordinating with another agency on a mission with a direct connection to public safety.

“There's such a sense of pride in being able to support the state of Maine and saving peoples' lives,” Arnold said. Both organizations emphasized the importance of building familiarity before an emergency occurs. Practicing communication, planning and execution in advance can reduce uncertainty and help personnel work together more efficiently when time is critical.

“It's always better to not have a real-life emergency be the first time you're thinking about that contingency and actually trying it out,” Arnold said.

Marion said he hopes the training will help make interactions between the organizations more routine, giving future search and rescue mission coordinators and command center personnel greater confidence in their ability to work together.

The goal is to establish a familiar, repeatable process rather than having personnel develop procedures from scratch during an emergency.

By continuing to train together, the Maine National Guard and Coast Guard are working to strengthen a partnership that can expand response options and improve their ability to support communities throughout Maine when lives are at stake.

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