Arctic search-and-rescue exercise ends

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Tim Hoffman
  • Arctic Search and Rescue Exercise 05 Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFPN) --  U.S., Russian and Canadian pararescuemen concluded a weeklong exercise here Sept. 16 that tested the three countries’ ability to conduct search-and-rescue operations in the Arctic region.

Arctic Search and Rescue Exercise 05 concluded with a freefall jump from an Alaska Air National Guard HC-130 P/N aircraft and HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters.

“It was incredible,” said Canadian Master Cpl. Andrew MacKenzie. “That was the first time I’ve jumped from a helicopter, and it was really different. With an aircraft you get hit right away by 120 knot winds, but at 10,000 feet from a helo it takes a while to get air.”

The exercise aims to increase interoperability among the three countries responsible for conducting search-and-rescue operations in the Arctic region. The exercise, in its 11th year, alternates hosts and was held here and at two nearby dropzones.

“We learned a lot by sharing our techniques and procedures,” said Russian Col. Valeriy Stepanov. “We have a lot to take back home with us that we will consider using in our operations.”

Early in the exercise, the teams practiced alternate insertion and extraction techniques using fast ropes and hoists from the helicopters. They also tested their skills during a mass-casualty exercise.

“The scenario was centered on a U.S.-flagged commercial airliner that crashed in a remote Arctic region,” said Col. Steven Hatter, exercise director. “We mobilized a joint U.S., Russian and Canadian rescue effort. The joint team went in, triaged the victims, then transported them to (a local) medical facility.”

Mock injuries, complete with makeup, and bilingual injury cards around victims’ necks made the training as realistic as possible.

“This was superb medical training,” Colonel Hatter said. “It enabled us to really hit one of our main goals of the exercise which was to share our tactics, techniques and procedures.”

Another goal of the exercise was to build international relationships.

“We can’t predict world events like the recent hurricane on the U.S. Gulf Coast or a Pacific tsunami,” said Canadian Lt. Col. Colin Goodman. “But we can predict that sometime in the near future we will be called on to work together. Whether it’s an airliner going down on the busy polar routes, like we exercised this week, or an earthquake scenario, it may need Canada’s involvement. But to be most effective in any combined action we have to establish a relationship beforehand, and that’s exactly what we are doing here.”

The Russians and Americans echoed the importance of building relationships.

“The Russian delegation changes constantly, except for me,” Colonel Stepanov said. “I was a rescuer in the first exercise in Tiksi, Russia, in 1994. I’ve been promoted now and don’t get to jump, so sometimes I think I shouldn’t have let the promotions happen. We always enjoy the teamwork, friendship and warm welcome we get every year and look forward to next year.”

Some may think language is a barrier, but that is not the case here.

“Arctic SAREX is about knocking down barriers,” Colonel Hatter said. “We have interpreters as part of our operations, but it’s amazing as we work throughout the week we communicate better and better even though we don’t speak the same language.”