Kandahar pararescuemen poised to save lives

  • Published
  • By Capt. Catie Hague
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFPN) --  Rescue specialists in southern Afghanistan say their primary reason for living is to prevent others from dying.

Based out of Kandahar Air Field, the 59th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron is ultimately tasked with rescuing downed aircrew and others in isolated areas.

“Luckily, that doesn’t happen too often,” said Staff Sgt. Tan Sirisak, a 59th ERQS pararescueman. “And although we are still postured for combat search and rescue, at this time, we mainly provide support for coalition (medical evacuations) and humanitarian aid.

“We respond when and where other emergency personnel can’t,” he said. “We are nationally-licensed paramedics and are trained in freefall, scuba and the highest level of combat. Basically, we are a Jack-of-all-trades organization.”

The training required to carry out this unique mission is extensive and consistent, so each pararescueman knows that those around him are on the same page, said Senior Airman Lopaka Mounts, another squadron pararescuemen.

“It’s a new experience every day, whether training or performing (a combat rescue),” he said. “We are always ready to go at a moment's notice.”

Kandahar is considered a medical staging area for the southern portion of Afghanistan, Sergeant Sirisak said. “Our job is to bring the injured to this airfield for air evac when other-than-immediate medical treatment is needed.”

On average, the Airmen rescue one person every couple weeks, officials said. The team responds to everything from vehicle accidents to heart attacks, recently rescuing an Afghan child who stepped on a land mine.

“At the end of the day,” Sergeant Sirisak said, “we’ve accomplished our mission if we’ve saved a life.”