48th RQS trains for the real deal

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Betty R. Chevalier
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  While many Airmen from D-M were finishing up their day, some Pararescuemen were beginning theirs, on the evening of April 14.

The 48th Rescue Squadron conducted a pre-deployment training exercise to teach, train and test Airmen on mass casualty treatment, evacuation, extrication, confined space and collapsed structure rescue.

"This mass casualty (exercise) was different simply because of the complexity of each scenario and the total number of patients," said Staff Sgt. Blake, 48th RQS Pararescueman and a team element leader.

This type of exercise was not one the unit usually practices. The unit combined two rescue teams who were tasked with two missions back-to-back, instead of a single mission. The unit also incorporated the use of realistic helicopters and conex, used as buildings, which gave them the ability to create the effect of a collapsed building.

The initial challenge the Airmen faced during this exercise was to respond to two downed helicopters with casualties. Upon arriving on the crash site, the team came under brief enemy fire. After eliminating the enemy, the Airmen split into two groups to provide attention and care to both downed aircraft.
Once the team was able to remove the patients from the crash site, they then provided initial medical treatment and radioed in two HH-60 Pavehawks from the 55th RQS to provide casualty extrication.

"This was a unique training mission," said Blake. "I haven't experienced anything this complex since becoming a PJ."

The team then shifted to a follow-on mission where they separated again. The first group focused on a 6-story collapsed structure where the PJs gained access through the roof. The few team members who entered the structure had to remove all their gear due to the confined space,. Once inside, they searched, located and removed casualties through small windows and lowered them off the roof.

Simultaneously, the second group handled a 5-vehicle site that was the result of vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices. The Airmen had to work through the vehicles, collecting the patients. They also had to dismember a vehicle to recuse four casualties from a mine-resistant, ambush protected vehicle. By the end of the 6-hour exercise, the team had successfully recovered 42 patients.

"Everyone received experience working as a team in a mass casualty (scenario by) performing a number of (Pararescue) skills that are crucial to be able to execute downrange," Blake said.

The rescue team ranged from Airmen who have never see combat to Airmen who have deployed multiple times.

"The younger guys gain knowledge of their capabilities, limitations and their role within the team," Blake said. "The older guys learn how to become more effective leaders and how to deal with unique situations."

Some of the benefits from this training included communication development, equipment familiarization and adapting as a team to an ever changing environment, Blake said.
This exercise gave the team a glimpse at what challenges may lie ahead in their careers.

"This exercise provided realistic training in a controlled environment allowing the team to work through the elements of stress and complexity that come with the aforementioned types of missions," Said Capt. Ben, 48the RQS Combat Rescue Officer. "It was an overall display of the multitude of mission sets Pararescue could be tasked with performing in any given theater. "

(Due to security concerns, the Airmen's last names are withheld.)