Oregon — An innovation born on the flight line in Salem has become the new standard for medical evacuation operations across the U.S. Army, thanks to Oregon Army National Guard aircrews.
Aircrews with Golf Company, 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation Regiment identified a critical equipment compatibility issue that threatened to limit the use of the Vita Vertical Rescue System (VRS), an advanced hoist stabilization technology. Their solution — a redesigned litter strap designated SK-1189-V and named after their unit — has now been certified by the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory and will be issued to every Army MEDEVAC unit.
“I’m happy that the legacy we’ve built in Oregon from Golf Company, 1-189th Aviation, will be represented in this new technology,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Josiah Zeiner of the Oregon Army National Guard. “Oregon has a part in making this a reality.”
The innovation emerged during training on June 18, 2025, when Oregon became only the third unit in the Army to receive the VRS. While testing the system on UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, crews discovered that standard Army litter straps were too short to safely secure patients when the VRS device was attached.
“We realized the device was a major advancement, but it still needed refinement,” Zeiner said.
Rather than waiting for a top-down fix, the Oregon aircrews took initiative. Sgt. James Gale, a crew chief with Golf Company and a heavy equipment technician with the Oregon Department of Transportation in his civilian career, helped identify practical solutions during early testing.
The team partnered with Skedco to modify an existing strap design, lengthening it and adding a Cobra buckle to accommodate multiple Black Hawk floor configurations and allow for rapid patient release. After prototyping and testing, several units were sent to the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory for evaluation.
Following airworthiness testing at Fort Rucker, the strap was certified and approved for inclusion in the Army’s standard VRS equipment package — a process that took roughly six months from problem identification to Army-wide adoption.
On January 21, 2026, Oregon aircrews trained with the certified strap system for the first time, marking it fully operational.
Oregon MEDEVAC crews routinely conduct high-risk rescues statewide, from Mount Hood climbing accidents to wildfire and flood responses. With the new system in place, crews will have greater flexibility and safety during complex hoist operations.
The designation SK-1189-V permanently links Golf Company, 1-189th Aviation, to the life-saving innovation, ensuring Oregon’s contribution to Army aviation will be felt across MEDEVAC units nationwide.
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