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Security forces, rescue squadron train together for future operations

US Air Forces in Europe News

Release Date: 9/3/2003

By Capt. Kristi Beckman 398th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs

LUNGI, Sierra Leone (USAFENS)-- The 786th Security Forces Squadron, Sembach Annex, Germany, and the 56th Rescue Squadron, Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, trained here recently, sling-loading helicopters to prepare themselves for future contingencies together.

The 786th Expeditionary SFS and 56th Expeditionary RQS, part of the 398th Air Expeditionary Group here, have been working together conducting evacuation missions out of the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia since July 13.

Used an external load carried by a cargo hook of any rotary aircraft, the two units were attempting to sling load ammunition and other items to the transload site, allowing them to make few trips said, Tech. Sgt. Scott Bobbitt, 56th ERQS flight engineer.

"It's a capability where we can sling cargo and still have cabin space," said Bobbitt. "We can carry greater loads and it's safer. If we have an emergency, we have a way to get rid of it ... jettison the load."

But while it may be safer and more efficient, it's also a task that also needs to practiced, said Staff Sgt. Damian Spaits, 786th ESFS airborne coordinator.

"This is great because we can put our training to use, and at the same time expose the 56th to operations they don't normally do," said Spaits. "I'm fairly certain they've (deployed security forces members) never stood right below a hovering helicopter and experienced that rush."

The training began with SFS airmen building a pallet of two all-terrain vehicles. The ATVs were chained down and secured together with cargo straps. After the pallet was secure, four SFS members positioned themselves next to the pallet to await the helicopter.

The Pavehawk slowly flew in and hovered less than five feet over their heads. Prior to hooking up the external load, one of the team members attached a field improvised static discharge wand to the helicopter and discharged static electricity from the aircraft.

"The aircraft has a lot of static electricity (because of the rotary blades) that it distributes," said Staff Sgt. Lajuan Austin, deployed desk sergeant from the 568th SFS, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. "So, we touched the pole to the helo, which took the electricity to the ground, and then secured the hook to the bottom of the aircraft. That way, we didn't get shocked. Once the hook was secured, we ran away from the aircraft."

Austin said the first time was a little nerve-racking.

"The key was having confidence in the pilots (in order) to walk under the helo while it was hovering over us," said Austin.

And the confidence paid off, said Spaits.

"We proved we could move the vehicles and maintain mobility once we get to a forward deployed location; a location where a fixed wing aircraft couldn't land," he said.

Teamwork was also key, said Bobbitt.

"The load was perfect, so to speak," he said. "Combining all of these skills together and deploying with these guys is what makes a better team."

The slightly experimental maneuver also built relationships, said Master Sgt. Bill Maus, 786th ESFS superintendent of contingency fuels.

"We hope to do a lot of operations in the future with the 56th ERQS and this is one of the operations that we would compliment each other on," he said.

"These guys (786th ESFS) bring quality that helps," said Bobbitt. "They bring experience to the table with additional training they have that we don't."

It's important for the two squadrons to work together, said Col. Steven Dreyer, 398th AEG commander.

"I think that the marriage they bring in contingency operations is a force that is timely, combat capable and combat lethal," he said. "We can move security forces into any forward space and fly security overhead giving them eyes on the battlefield.

"On this deployment, we created bonds that will last for a long time," Dreyer continued. "We have proven our ability to work as a team which gives us the stability to be the headlights (first eyes on scene) for the expeditionary Air Force."