Photo By Staff Sgt. Nicole Mount | Security Forces Airmen assigned to the 943d Security Forces Squadron kneel as a 305th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter prepares to land nearby during a combat search and rescue training exercise Feb. 4, 2023, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. During this four-day exercise, 943d SFS Airmen conducted hoist training, egress procedures and familiarization flights within Pave Hawks to prepare for integrated combat search and rescue operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airmen Nicole Koreen) see less
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The 920th Rescue Wing conducted a week-long validation exercise designed to refine mass-casualty emergency response procedures. Airmen from across the wing worked to ensure pararescuemen and aircrew from HH-60G Pave Hawk and HC-130J Combat King II aircraft enhanced their abilities to treat critically injured patients in austere locations, support ground special operations teams, and conduct extended duration overland movement and in-flight patient care.
During the course of the exercise, pararescuemen conducted live-fire infantry action drills and small-unit tactics while maneuvering with patients, called in emergency close air support from HH-60s and F-15E Strike Eagles, and triaged and treated mass casualty patients. 920th RQW HH-60s conducted real-time aircraft deconfliction, high altitude aerial refueling and the hoisting, fast roping and rappelling of ground forces. The wing's HC-130s conducted combat search and rescue-commander actions while searching for, authenticating and directing rescue forces to downed pilots, as well as performed air drops of multiple resupply bundles and troops.