FORT HUACHCUA, Ariz. -The 48th Rescue Squadron from Davis-Monthan Air
Force Base conducted training jumps last week at Fort Huachuca's East Range.
The 34 pararescuemen and combat rescue officers
conducted two different types of jumps over a two- day
period: static line and military free-fall jumps.
Staff Sgt. Sean described the jumps the group had just
completed minutes after landing, "We just did a military
free fall jump also known as a HALO, (high altitude, low
opening) with combat equipment.
"We insert at a high altitude and deploy our canopy
around 4,000 feet then glide into the target.
"We do this every few months -- sometimes a little
more than a few months. Just depends on what is going
on," Sean added.
The 48th Rescue Squadron provides combatant commanders
with personnel and equipment to perform 24-
hour worldwide personnel recovery operations. Combat
rescue officer and PJ teams provide rapid response in
adverse geographic and urban environments to include
denied/sensitive areas and provide ground interface, survivor
contact and emergency trauma care.
"The most important aspect in this training is to [give]
the team the ability to land in close proximity to one another
in an austere environment," said Master Sgt. Steven.
"I have [used these skills] once out in the Atlantic
Ocean, 1,500 miles off the coast of Florida. Myself and
three other PJs jumped in to recover an injured Chinese
fisherman," Steven said. "I became a PJ because of the
rescue aspect of it, and we get to do a lot of interesting
things. We jump, we dive, we work with ropes, weapons
-- you name it -- so it is very intriguing."
Steven then discussed using the facilities at Fort
Huachuca. "For one, the drop zone is rather large and it
is in pretty close proximity to Davis-Monthan Air Force
Base, and with the large numbers we had today it completed
everything we needed to complete." I believe Fort
Huachuca has a lot of opportunities for us in the future,"
he added.
The teams function on flying
status for day, night, land
and water recovery operations
from helicopters and fixed
wing aircraft. Rescue teams deploy
from the aircraft via static
line and free-fall parachute,
fast-rope and rappel methods.
Pararescuemen primarily
function as technical recovery
specialists, with emergency
medical capabilities in humanitarian
and combat environments.
They deploy in any
available manner into restricted
environments to authenticate,
extract, treat, stabilize and
evacuate injured people.
They can also go into a situation
in an enemy-evading, recovery
role. PJs participate in
search-and-rescue, combat searchand-
rescue, recovery support
for NASA and conduct other
operations as appropriate.
"The most important aspect of the training, I would
say, is situation awareness. You need to kind of know
what is going on; you need to pay attention to details.
If you're not paying attention to everything you are doing,
mistakes happen, so we prevent that by constantly
checking our gear, checking our equipment, making sure
you are on top of everything and doing everything by a
checklist," Sean said.
The Airmen like to conduct parachute jump training
on Fort Huachuca's drop zone.
"It is one of the closest DZs (drop zones) we can use
that is a military DZ and will allow us to insert here and
do all aspects of our training," he added about practicing
at Fort Huachuca."It is a really nice drop zone. It is really
easy to find and see when you are high up in the air so
it's really nice."
Sean became a PJ because, "I wanted the chance to be
able to go in and save peoples'
lives. Get into where no one
else can and be able to rescue
people and protect life."
Pararescuemen missions
and roles include emergency
medical treatment to save
lives, search-and-rescue operations,
recovery of downed
aircrews and aerospace hardware,
NASA space shuttle
launch rescue support and
special tactics in support of
inter-service special operations,
according to the USAF
Pararescue website.
PJs must complete the
six-week basic military training
along with another 17
months of training at a variety
of schools.
"The most important aspect
is repetition. Getting it to where we can do it safely
and effectively so actually get on the target together and
not have some kind of mishap," said Senior Airman John.
"I have not used this training in real life because I am
one of the newest guys here in the squadron. I have only
been here eight months and just missed the last deployment,
but I will be ready for the next one," John said.
"We do this kind of training whenever we can. We have
to do this at a minimum once every six months, bare
minimum, but we like to do it more than that if we can."
This is was John's first time jumping in at Fort
Huachuca. "The drop zone is different. I kind of like it
in the fact that it is just kind of a little more remote and
has a few more hazards so you really actually need to land
where you are supposed to land," he said.
"I became a PJ because it had everything I wanted.
I would be put in a position to hopefully save people's
lives, and I would have the medical training as well as
every other training to do it, not only that, but the challenge
and definitely camaraderie," John said. "The best part is the camaraderie, hands down. The
guys I get to work with are some of the best dudes out
there. They are willing to put their lives on the line to get
other people back home -- those are the best friends you
could ever have," he added.
"I think the convenience of its location [Fort Huachuca]
probably is most important for us, the fact that it seems to
be available every single time. The only downfall is the fact
that it is not a paved runway and we can't do multiple lifts
from one site," said Staff Sgt. Andrew.
Most of the 48th RQS just returned from a deployment,
Andrew said. "We are focusing on getting spun up
again just in case we need to go back to work," he said.
Andrew joined the PJs after looking at other military
branches first. "I think this is the total package, the
whole lifestyle, the fact that I will be saving lives instead
of taking them was a definite plus, and some payment
perks as well," Andrew said.
Fort Huachuca regularly supports joint and coalition training here. Aircraft from Davis-Monthan and Luke Air Force Bases fly daily in the fort's controlled airspace.
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