Krapović: Members of the VCG and NG Main confirmed their capabilities for the most challenging rescue scenarios

Airmen and medical personnel of the Army of Montenegro and the Maine National Guard (United States of America) conducted a demonstration exercise at the "Knjaz Danilo Petrović Njegoš" military airport in Zeta as part of the "Common Challenge 26" exercise, during which procedures and techniques for responding in the event of an aircraft crash and rescuing the injured were demonstrated.

During the exercise, the actions taken after a simulated aircraft crash were demonstrated, from the first response at the scene of the accident, securing the area and providing first aid, to the extraction and evacuation of the injured person from inaccessible terrain.

Minister of Defense Dragan Krapović announced that the crews of the VCG and NG Mejna demonstrated a high level of training, knowledge and experience in performing complex aviation and rescue procedures. Fire and rescue teams responded quickly and secured the accident site, while helicopter rescuers demonstrated techniques for extracting an injured person from inaccessible terrain and preparing him for further medical evacuation, he said.

A special segment of the exercise related to the coordination of different teams, which, Krapović points out, is of key importance in situations in which the actions of aviation, firefighting, rescue and medical capacities must be coordinated in a short period of time.

"Cooperation between the Army of Montenegro and the Maine National Guard has been developing for years and encompasses various areas, including training and exercises, exchange of experiences, and improvement of interoperability. Joint training enables members of the Armed Forces of the two countries to exchange knowledge and experience, further improve procedures, and be better prepared to respond to real crisis situations," the minister emphasized.

The demonstration exercise was attended by the Chief of Staff of the General Staff of the Army of Montenegro, Colonel Mitar Klikovac, the exercise commander, Frigate Captain Goran Đurković, the Commander of the Air Force of the Army of Montenegro, Lieutenant Colonel Bojan Popadić, as well as senior officers of the Maine National Guard, Colonel Nathan Arnold and Lieutenant Colonel Gary Jordan, and Lieutenant Colonel Bernd Roth from the Austrian Armed Forces.