Maryland Helicopter Aquatic Response Team

08/20/2026

Maryland Army Guard’s Raven 90 in Action: HART Training at Duckett Dam
When swift-water rescues demand heavy-lift air power, the Maryland Army National Guard answers the call.
Check out this footage featuring Raven 90, our UH-60 Black Hawk from the 29th Combat Aviation Brigade, during a joint Maryland Helicopter Aquatic Response Team (HART) training exercise at the T. Howard Duckett Dam.
Executing precision hovers in high-risk environments requires total synchronization between the pilots, crew chiefs, and hoist operators. During these drills, our aviation crews team up with elite Maryland State Police, county police, and civilian swift-water technicians to ensure a seamless lift—from dropping the rescuer into position to hoisting the patient safely on board and delivering them to waiting EMS at the landing zone.
Our citizen-soldiers train year-round so we're always ready when it matters most—whether that's responding locally or deploying to major operations like the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse and Hurricane Helene relief in North Carolina.
Proud to train alongside our incredible partners:
Maryland State Police Aviation Command
Baltimore County Police Department
Baltimore, Harford, Howard, and Montgomery County Fire Departments
Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services
WSSC Water

07/25/2026

07/25/2026

07/14/2026

05/22/2026

04/05/2026

A visit back to Western NC to see the recovery progress. One of the stops was Bat Cave. This field was used by NC-HART and MD-HART to land and evacuate the citizens in the area.

02/12/2026

Mission Complete: METS Training Wrapped 🚁💦
That’s a wrap from Fort Campbell! Our MD-HART and MDARNG crews have officially completed Day 2 and graduated from the Modular Egress Training Simulator (METS) course at the Allison Aquatics Facility.
Yesterday was all about high-intensity, "train like you fight" scenarios. The team started with a final morning lecture before heading to the pool for a demanding afternoon, covering:
• Full PPE Evolutions: Practicing emergency evacuation while wearing full rescue technician gear, including drysuits.
• Water Survival & Life Rafts: Mastering sea survival techniques and raft stabilization.
• Strop Extractions: Executing hoist-style evacuations via strop to simulate real-world recovery.
• The Final Simulation: A "check-ride" evolution that put every skill together under pressure.
With the training complete, the crews are heading back to Maryland today, sharper and more prepared than ever for over-water missions.
Huge congratulations to everyone who pushed through the "dunker" and earned their certification. Safe travels home!

02/11/2026

Underwater & In Control 🌊🚁
Big day for the MD-HART and MDARNG crews at Fort Campbell! We just wrapped Day 1 of Modular Egress Training Simulator (METS) at the Allison Aquatics Facility.
Safety isn’t just a briefing—it’s a skill. Our personnel hit the classroom hard before diving into the pool for high-stakes evolutions, including:
• Shallow Water Egress: Mastering the fundamentals of exiting a submerged craft.
• HEEDS Usage: Getting comfortable breathing underwater with emergency systems.
• The METS Dunker: Full-scale egress drills to ensure muscle memory when it matters most.
The team is back at it this morning for more classroom sessions and advanced pool evolutions. Staying ready so we can stay "Always Ready."