By Spc. Duncan Foote, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office
NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana National Guard’s 61st Troop Command and the 225th Engineer Brigade held a comprehensive Urban Search and Rescue training exercise at the state-of-the-art Roco Training Center in Baton Rouge, La. July 17-20.
This four-day training is a vital part of LANG’s ongoing commitment to ensuring preparedness and proficiency in emergency response operations. 
“We faced realistic scenarios that challenged our skills and pushed us to work as a team,” said Sgt. Eric Lotz, 239th Military Police Company. “Each day taught us something new about our capabilities and how to respond effectively in critical situations.”
During the training, Soldiers engaged in a series of realistic scenarios designed to simulate contaminated environment urban disaster conditions. These exercises included vehicle and machinery rescue, confined space rescue, structural collapse rescue, conducting victim recovery operations and employing advanced search techniques using specialized equipment.
“Our mission is to be ready for any situation, and this training is essential to honing our skills in urban environments,” said Capt. Taylor Johnson, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package Search and Extraction Element commander, 61st TC. “The complexities of urban rescue operations require not only technical skills, but also teamwork and adaptability. Today, our Soldiers demonstrated an exemplary performance.” 
The training at RTC, equipped with cutting-edge facilities and an array of challenging environments, provided Soldiers the opportunity to practice critical skills in a safe and controlled setting.
“Roco is very proud to partner with the Louisiana National Guard and to host them at the Roco Rescue Training Center here in Baton Rouge to refine their skills and share our experience,” said Kanen Blackwell with Roco Rescue. “We look forward to building upon our relationship and are excited to see our partnership grow going forward.”
As the LANG continues to develop its capabilities, this training serves as a crucial step in ensuring that Soldiers are equipped to respond swiftly and effectively in times of crisis.
