Sembach security forces practice aerial rescues

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Tracy Giles
  • 435th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GEORG-FRIEDRICH KASERNE, Germany (AFPN) --  Eleven Airmen of the 786th Security Forces Squadron at nearby Sembach Air Base practiced their search and rescue skills here June 14 to 18 during NATO Operation Clean Hunter.

They were joined by people from the 56th Rescue Squadron at Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, and rescue teams from the British, Polish and Czech forces.

During the weeklong exercise, the Airmen practiced extracting and inserting troops, and rescuing “survivors” or “downed pilots.”

Aircrews from two 56th RQS HH-60G Pave Hawks participated along with Czech and Polish helicopters.

The scenarios all involved rescue teams and helicopters working together to perform rescue operations.

Some of the helicopter techniques practiced by the 786th SFS Airmen included climbing up rope ladders, repelling and sliding down ropes, and parachuting from helicopters.

“Besides search and rescue, it also provides alternate ways for us to practice techniques we may use in the future that will help us open up airfields in bare-base locations,” said 1st Lt. Mike Jewell, assistant operations officer for the 786th SFS.

Lieutenant Jewell said his team provides the tents, communication and bare-base infrastructure.

“They need us, and we need them,” he said. “Neither one of us could perform these missions without the help of the other.”

The training gives the Airmen experience that will help them to expand the contingency response group mission capability, said Staff Sgt. Benny Tammelin, noncommissioned officer in charge of vehicles for the 786th SFS.

“This will help us to work in sync when we deploy together and ensure a smoother operation,” Sergeant Tammelin said. “It creates team integrity.”

Airmen from the two squadrons have been working together in real-world deployments since Kosovo in 1999 and more recently in evacuating people from the U.S. Embassy in Liberia in 2003, said Maj. Brett Hartnett, assistant director of operations for the 56th RQS.

He said this exercise was set up after he asked U.S. Air Forces in Europe officials for more opportunities to maintain a relationship with the 786th SFS to provide their combat search and rescue support.

“This is all part of a larger plan to establish a NATO response force with the skills required to set up [in] bare-base locations,” he said. “And the only way to do it is with the help of the 786th SFS and the 86th CRG.”

As for the future, Major Hartnett said the squadrons will continue their working relationship and practice their team skills in more exercises next year. (Courtesy of USAFE News Service)