Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong said the Sheriff’s Office dive team took part in a joint water rescue training over the weekend at the Sheriff’s Office water rescue training facility. This unique training involved multiple first responder agencies and the military, including BSORT (Blount Special Operations Team), the 134th Air Refueling Wing from McGhee Tyson Airbase, Tennessee Army National Guard Task Force Smokey, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and Knoxville Police Department.
The coordinated effort involved water rescue training scenarios utilizing the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crews from Task Force Smokey at McGhee Tyson Airbase, with the assistance of airmen from the 134th Air Refueling Wing, and supported by divers and other first responders with BSORT (a cooperative effort between several first responder agencies in Blount County, including Blount County Sheriff’s Office), as well as dive and marine unit members from Knox County Sheriff’s Office and Knoxville Police Department.
“This unparalleled experience provided our dive team members with a training opportunity they’ve never had before,” Sheriff Berrong said. “Fort Loudoun Lake is a major recreational lake in Blount County, and Little River is popular with boaters, kayak enthusiasts, fishermen, and people just wanting to cool off during the summer. Our BSORT members respond to several calls throughout the year for stranded swimmers and unfortunately, drowning calls as well. The many resources we have available to us locally by way of support from our Tennessee National Guard units at McGhee Tyson Airbase is invaluable. Training with them, as well as our law enforcement agencies in neighboring counties is beneficial to all of us.”
Knox County Sheriff's Office Knoxville Police Department - TN 134th Air Refueling Wing, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base Tennessee National Guard
Sheriff Berrong said he hopes this weekend’s training will evolve into more regular training with the participating agencies in the future.
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