2025 NATIONAL ROOKIE RAPPEL ACADEMY

The Salmon-Challis National Forest and Salmon Air Base recently hosted the 2025 National Rookie Rappel Academy.  

Sixty-one rookie rappelers from the 12 national rappel programs located in Regions 1, 4, 5, and 6 were trained in the intensive, performance-based program.  

The U.S. Forest Service National Helicopter Rappel Program’s primary mission is initial attack. Initial attack describes actions taken by the first resources to arrive at a wildfire to protect lives and property and prevent further extension of the fire. Rappelers are aerially delivered to the fire by helicopters. They are trained and prepared to operate in all the roles of heli-base operations for work done by helicopters in the Forest Service.  

“This season we have over 280 rappelers responding to wildfires throughout the United States,” said Adam Kahler, National Rappel Specialist. “As of June 18, our 12 crews have responded to 91 initial attack fires and inserted over 250 firefighters, 110 of them via rappel. Last year the National Rappel Program saw its highest use ever with 936 fire rappels as the demand for rappelers and our ability to utilize modern aircraft to respond to fires safer, faster, and with more firefighters over greater distances than ever before.”   

This year, all 61 rookies and 14 experienced rappelers were trained using the Super Puma helicopter.  The Super Puma is equipped with rappelling platforms that are used to transport and deploy personnel and cargo, for rappel and cargo letdown operations, and water dropping missions. By using the Super Puma, the capacity has been doubled to deliver eight rappelers in contrast to four in traditional operations.   

This is the 13th year the training has been hosted in Salmon, Idaho. Sixty support staff, five helicopters, and multiple flight crews facilitated and supported the academy this year.   

To learn more about the National Rappel Academy visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9biIHaTjgg