Five Schofield Barracks soldiers were injured yesterday afternoon in a training accident at Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island, an Army official said.

Hawai'i soldiers are conducting live-fire training on the Big Island in preparation for a summer deployment to Iraq.

An Army Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic, or MAST, helicopter transported the injured soldiers to Hilo Medical Center, officials said. No information was immediately available on their condition or the training accident, said Army spokesman Kendrick Washington.

The Army's emergency medevac helicopter flights, a life-saving responder to civilian traffic accidents and other medical emergencies on O'ahu since 1974, will be suspended April 1.

The Charlie Company Black Hawk helicopters and crews, who also provide emergency service on the Big Island, also need to train for Iraq duty. The military choppers are not expected to be available again for Hawai'i emergency service any earlier than October 2007.

Approximately 7,000 Scho-field Barracks soldiers, including the division headquarters, 3rd Brigade and aviation brigade, are expected to head to northern Iraq around August for a yearlong mission.

The 109,000-acre Pohakuloa Training Area is used by multiple military services for aircraft and ground troop training. The Army wants to buy about 23,000 adjoining acres from Parker Ranch for Stryker Brigade training.

Soldiers with the 325th Brigade Support Battalion, a unit heading to Iraq, spent 25 days at Pohakuloa and participated in night and day convoy training involving simulated roadside bombs, pop-up targets and live-fire exercises. The "Mustangs" of the 325th also conducted machine-gun qualifications and practiced driving military vehicles. More than 200,000 rounds of ammunition were fired, and the soldiers covered thousands of miles.

Troop maneuvers on the Big Island have been stepped up after a federal court's Feb. 2 decision rejecting an Army bid to resume live-fire training in Makua Valley on O'ahu, saying the service must abide by federal environmental law that requires a comprehensive study of the effects of more than 60 years of military training in the valley.

Schofield helicopters regularly transport soldiers and equipment to the Big Island.

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com.