The Amstetten and Wiener Neustadt garrisons now have specially trained Alpine soldiers on standby. They are deployed when the civilian aid organizations need support.
They are trained in searching for buried victims and in first aid measures following avalanche accidents. Thanks to their mountain training, the soldiers can also be deployed in operations after massive snowfalls in difficult terrain. The military commander of Lower Austria, Brigadier Martin Jawurek, commented: “The Alpine experts of the Austrian Armed Forces have often demonstrated their willingness to deploy and their excellent training. These soldiers, as an integral part of the security family in Lower Austria, are ready to help our population wherever they are needed and whatever is required of them.” The avalanche task forces of the Austrian Armed Forces can be requested by civilian authorities as part of an assistance mission. The soldiers’ task is usually to reinforce the civilian forces on site. The army also ensures that assistance and rescue operations can be carried out over a longer period of time. The soldiers constantly review and improve their knowledge and skills in operational exercises.
