Air Force team hones search and recovery skills

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DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFNEWS) --  Search and recovery team members here practiced their skills in a basewide exercise that included a simulated crash of a C-17 Globemaster III carrying nuclear weapons near the Davis-Monthan AFB runway.

The team is tasked with recovering human remains from accident sites. The exercise gave the team some valuable training in their time-sensitive mission.

"To expedite the remains as quickly as possible so that the family members can have some peace in their lives is our responsibility," said the leader of the team, Tech. Sgt. Justin Jordan. "That's our main goal, without risking the safety and health of our team members."

The safety of the team members was one area that was tested vigorously during the exercise. The simulated remains and the team members were checked out for contamination, a possible threat if a nuclear incident occurs.

To be successful the team members have to communicate effectively. Sergeant Jordan said his team takes their jobs on the search and recovery team very seriously and that they strive to perform their duties in the most professional and respectful manner possible.

"Doing that in a dignified manner and helping them in the long run," he said. "That's what we would all would want if something like that would happen to us."

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