US Navy, FDNY dive units link up for joint training in New York City
U.S. Navy senior chief and master diver Ryan Ilagan and FDNY rescue battalion chief Thor Johannessen shared details with Fox News Digital about the ways the two agencies learn from one another.
Two all-American agencies are teaming up to keep our country safe.
The U.S. Navy met up with FDNY firefighters on Wednesday of this week to work together on a demonstrative dive training mission at the USS Intrepid.
The two entities swapped valuable information on diving techniques and technology — and then took a dip in New York City’s Hudson River for a mock dive.
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The dive tested out anti-terrorism force protection (ATFP) procedures used by the military to search for explosives on the running gears and props of boats.
U.S. Navy master diver and senior chief Ryan Ilagan said in an on-camera interview with Fox News Digital that the "inter-operability training" allows both the Navy and FDNY dive units to compare their separate operations (SEE the video at top of this article).
"We conduct these exercises regardless of wherever [we are], to be able to conduct operations with anyone anywhere," he said.
"For this evolution … we wanted to link up with a dive unit up here in New York to share our capabilities, conduct subject-matter exchange and learn how diving operations with the fire department are similar or [not] similar to Navy diving," he continued.
The FDNY special operations unit was approached by the U.S. Navy to collaborate with the department's dive class, FDNY rescue battalion chief Thor Johannessen told Fox News Digital.
"It really worked out well to do this joint training, where even though our missions don’t overlap directly, a lot of the techniques and equipment [do]," he said.
The FDNY’s mission to "protect life and property" sometimes includes scuba diving, but it’s only one part of the bigger picture, Johannessen also said.
"Our Navy divers dive for a living every day and … that’s not all we do. We’re firefighters first," he said.
"So to learn and train with an organization that dives as the focus of their mission is a great opportunity," he added.
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At the end of the day, trainings like this are all about keeping the public safe, firefighter Jack Westrenen, of Staten Island’s Fire Rescue 5, told Fox News Digital.
He and his fellow firefighters were focused on advancing their dive and rescue skills during the week of training, he noted.
This included a second dive at an abandoned quarry in Verplanck, New York, on Thursday.
"[I’m hoping to] learn new techniques and better my skills to get better in the water," Westrenen said.
Navy master diver Ilagan said, "We’re very thankful for the city of New York and the fire department for having us, and for the USS Intrepid [for] providing us with a unique training ground."
The certification exercise event is also a deployment workup for some of the Navy divers present, which Ilagan emphasized is helpful for working alongside other units overseas.
"Just like any other deployment, we’re tasked to work with other agencies and units," he said.
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"This is a very similar event [to] how we would operate on deployment … So this is a perfect training ground," he added.
Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2, stationed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, is a salvage diving company that rescues and recovers vessels, equipment and other water-bound material.
In addition to the dive, MDSU 2, company 2-4, and the FDNY presented to each other procedures and technologies used in service — like salvage robotics.
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This includes a robot called a "video ray defender" which is programmed to detect, inspect and retrieve underwater targets without putting lives at risk, Navy master diver Ilagan explained.
The U.S. Navy and the FDNY conducted a collaborative training on April 26, 2023. (Angelica Stabile/Fox News Digital)
"Based on contaminated water or the threat level, we can easily deploy a robot and get the same amount of information with limited resources," he said.
"I can send a two-man team now with robotics and conduct reconnaissance and get enough information for us to plan and execute diving operations."
Both organizations are in the midst of trying out location robotics, FDNY rescue battalion chief Johannessen revealed.
"[The Navy] would be looking for something other than what we’re looking for — drowning victims, vehicles, sometimes helicopters," he said.
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"[Robotics] could help us really pinpoint where we should be sending our divers," he also said.
