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Great Falls, Mont. — Montana’s 120th Air Wing has started using a new training site near Great Falls called the Vigilante Drop Zone.

The land was bought with money approved by the Montana Legislature.

Guard leaders said the site’s location close to base matters because it gives crews more chances to train without traveling farther away.

“Just increases our readiness. I mean, the opportunity to be able to train in an excellent training environment like this, right in your backyard. The opportunity to do this day in and day out, nights and weekends, and be able to do it quickly instead of having to go down past Helena or even out on Malmstrom,” said Brig. Gen. Trenton Gibson, adjutant general for the State of Montana.

Senior Airman Liam Flaherty, a flight engineer on one of the drops, explained that the practice supports people working on the ground.

“What we’re dropping today is a simulation of a container delivery system. The biggest importance for this type of mission is to resupply friendly forces in forward operating bases or the people who are actually on the ground,” said Flaherty.

In Montana, the National Guard could also use those kinds of drops to support firefighters in remote areas during fire season.

Gibson said he was impressed by what he saw during the training and that he was excited about the experience his airmen were gaining.

“It’s just it’s really awesome to see how well that oiled machine kind of comes together and these guys did a great job today. But I assure you, as the reps, sets, come on, they’ll be they’ll be smashing that little orange cone before too long,” he said.

The Montana Air National Guard told the reporter it planned to use the drop zone year-round in different conditions. The group also said crews would practice dropping different payloads there, including troops eventually.