Emergency services teamed up with the military for a joint training exercise involving Chinook helicopters.
Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the Scottish Ambulance Service and military personnel trained together in South Lanarkshire in a bid to strengthen how emergency services and Defence work together during major incidents.
The exercise, on September 11, was supported by RAF aviation and saw RAF Chinook helicopters transport personnel between exercise locations.
Throughout the exercise, Police Scotland officers flew in Chinook helicopters from their Headquarters to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters in Cambuslang. Alongside 2 SCOTS, they took part in a scenario-based training exercise using blank firing ammunition, giving personnel realistic practice in a safe and controlled environment.
The exercise also tested the process for the safe handling, triage and handover of individuals between military and police personnel, helping to ensure smooth coordination between the two.
Exercise Tartan Kukri was a multi-agency training exercise nested within the wider Exercise Kukri Dawn, a routine RAF-led exercise running from 2nd to 18th September, which is designed to train new Chinook aircrew by replicating operational scenarios.
The exercise brought together specialist teams including Police Scotland Firearms officers, the Major Incident Support and Coordination Unit (MISCU), alongside 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 SCOTS), Military Provost Staff, the Scottish Ambulance Service Special Operations Response Team, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service National Inter-agency Liaison Officers, RAF Chinook crews and Tactical Support Wing personnel from 28 Squadron.
The aim was to build and enhance interoperability between the Emergency Services and Defence in Scotland and gave all personnel valuable experience of joint aviation operations.
Squadron Leader Paul Day, Chinook Flight Commander, said: “This is the culminating exercise for our trainee Chinook pilots and crewmen before they progress to operational flying duties. Operating in the demanding conditions found here in Scotland, alongside our civil partners and the British Army, provides realistic, high-quality training that develops the skills, experience and confidence our crews need for future operations.”
This partnership between Police Scotland and the military reflects the principles of the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Programme (JESIP), which sets out how emergency services should work together to save lives and reduce harm.
A previous Exercise Kukri Dawn took place in March, with joint police and Defence activity centred on Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh.
Lieutenant Colonel Doug Mackay, Joint Regional Liaison Officer Scotland, said: “This exercise is a valuable opportunity for Defence to work in close cooperation with our Emergency Services colleagues in a challenging and fast-moving scenario, improving our interoperability and gaining mutual understanding of each other’s organisations and way of working. Tough, realistic training is key to operational success on the day.”
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