JANUARY 23, 2026 — An innovation born from operational necessity on the flight line in Salem has become the new standard for medical evacuation operations across the entire U.S. Army.
Oregon Army National Guard aircrews with G Company, 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation Regiment, identified and solved a critical equipment compatibility issue that threatened to limit the use of cutting-edge rescue technology. Their solution — a redesigned litter strap designated SK-1189-V and named after their unit — has been certified by the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory and will now be issued to every medevac unit in the Army.
“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, aviation safety officer with 2nd Battalion, 641st Aviation Regiment. “Oregon has a part in making this a reality.”…