Angel Thunder Exercise reigns over southern Arizona

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Leslie Kraushaar
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The desert, known for its sharp edges and ruthless heat, set the stage here for a world premiere training event.

Angel Thunder, a multi-national, interagency, personnel recovery exercise that focused specifically on combat search and rescue or CSAR, was the name of the game for Air Force Rescue Reservists in southern Arizona, April 13-23.

The Rescue Reservists from the 943rd Rescue Group here, which is a geographically separated unit of the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick AFB, Fla., were among other joint and combined services. Other's included the U.S Army, Dutch Air Force, Drug Enforcement Agency or DEA, German Air Force, British Air Force and active duty Air Force Airmen all working together in the name of search and rescue.

"This is excellent training for us," said Air Force reservist Lt. Col. Brett Howard, deputy commander of operations, 305th helicopter squadron at the 943rd RQG.

"We get to tie in all pieces of combat search and rescue," he said. "This gets us as close to a real-world threat that we would expect to see overseas."

Usually, the rescue experts travel from unit to unit to gain the necessary training for their combat deployments, but Angel Thunder allowed all the pieces from the various units to converge in one spot to put it all together in as realistic a situation as possible.

"Train as you fight," said Senior Master Sgt. Chris Tellsworth, reserve pararescueman (PJ) from the 306th Rescue Squadron (943rd RQG).

"These are realistic wartime training scenarios that we could find ourselves in overseas," he explained. "The area here mimics the terrain and weather we might see downrange (in Afghanistan - where some members of the unit are currently deployed to)."

The training involves multiple aircraft to include: HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, A-10 Thunderbolt II, E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control Systems aircraft, E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, an AH-64 Apache and F-16 Fighting Falcons, focuses on all aspects of conventional and unconventional types of CSAR.

The primary area of focus is responding to the CSAR-driven scenario of locating and bringing home the target or Isolated Personnel (IP) from start to finish.

The start is to locate the IP, authenticate and reintegrate them. The authentication process starts the minute the PJs encounter the 'survivor.' They do this, in this instance, by parachuting into the area where the 'survivor' was last seen or heard from. Once the PJs are able to communicate with that person, they ask a series of questions to make sure they are who they say they are and isn't the enemy trying to ambush the rescue. From there, the reintegration process is getting that 'survivor' back into the mainstream military. For example, if it is a downed pilot, the goal is to get him back into the cockpit.

The group responsible for this process is the Guardian Angel Weapons System, or GAWS, that consists of combat rescue officers (CROs), pararescuemen (PJs) and survival, evasion, resistance and evasion specialists or SERE.

The GAWs are able to fly on any aircraft necessary to get them to where the survivor is. From there, they have many different methods of getting to that person. The PJs follow a two to three year program, the pipeline, which funnels them through parachute, dive, combat and emergency medical school. With those skills at their disposal they can use whatever means required to get to the survivor.

Along with the mission of 'rescuing' the IP, the aircraft used for getting to the rescue travel in small groups to work as team.

"It's a crawl, walk, run situation," said Colonel Howard.

By starting with a small package, or a couple HH-60G helicopters, a AH-64 Apache helicopter used by the Dutch and an extended-range HC-130P/N Hercules aircraft, used as a search platform and mid-air refueling the helicopters, allowed the players to get a feel for what's expected of them, he said.

By the end of the two-week exercise, everyone was fully engaged and operational. From F-16s soaring overhead to the A-10s maneuvering for escorts and reconnaissance - it took the energy and focus of all parties involved to have a successful exercise, said Colonel Howard.

Angel Thunder is in its fourth year and provides tactical-level opportunities for more than 1,200 ground, air and support U.S. and international participants and more than 50 aircraft to engage in a variety of personnel recovery scenarios.

As an annual event, the Air Force Reserve plays a huge role in all things combat search and rescue.

Pilot Lt. Col. Robert Haston and his crew of three, from the 920th RQW flew from Florida to join up with the GSU Airmen here to take part in Angel Thunder.

"This exercise allowed the new crew members to see the chaos that is part of a big, joint operation," he said.

Although the participants said the two-weeks went by quickly, plans for next year's event may already be forming in the minds of the participants.

"I'm looking forward to kicking it up a notch in the electronic warfare arena," said Colonel Haston.

"Angel Thunder was a success because these men and women train daily for combat - and everyone, from the maintainers on the aircraft to those flying them, are an integral part of the mission," said Col. Robert Dunn, 943rd Rescue Group.