EUFOR trains Vogošća K9 team for helicopter rescue operations

The K9 Team of the Vogošća Fire Department has completed specialized helicopter training at Camp Butmir in collaboration with EUFOR’s Aviation Detachment (AV DET). This training aims to strengthen Bosnia and Herzegovina’s emergency response capabilities by preparing search and rescue dogs and their handlers for high-pressure environments.

The training focused on helicopter familiarization, including managing the noise, vibrations, and boarding procedures of the aircraft. This capability, which was previously unavailable in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is designed to prepare teams for missions involving floods, landslides, earthquakes, and mountain rescues.

Participants noted that the training was conducted in stages, starting with the helicopter rotors turned off to allow dogs to acclimate to the space before progressing to active rotor operations. The goal is to ensure that search and rescue teams can deploy rapidly and confidently during life-threatening situations.