Team Rescue gives life to cyberspace training

  • Published
  • By Capt. Cathleen Snow
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - --  Standing five-feet-five-inches tall, a small-framed female Airman, Tech. Sgt. Rhonda Danyus, stood in line waiting to go up against a human weapons system - six-foot-tall, 200 lb., Master Sergeant Jon Grant, in a hand-to-hand combat duel.

Built like an NFL linebacker, Sergeant Grant, a combat veteran, had on a red padded suit for protection, and the obvious advantage, but Sergeant Danyus took her turn at pot shots without hesitation.

This role reversal went into effect for Air Force Reservists of the 920th Rescue Wing here May 8 while those who normally serve behind the scenes, were front and center, and the operators, took a step back.

Logistics support Airmen of the 308th Rescue Squadron who cut orders, manage training, purchase supplies, etc., for the Guardian Angel Weapons System Airmen, put on their war faces during the drill training weekend.

GAWS Airmen who go into combat and perform search and rescue, facilitated the hands-on training combat scenarios for their support personnel to help them get ready for upcoming deployments.

Among Sergeant Danyus, there were 30 logistics Airmen divided into five teams of six. Five training stations, and a lot of sweating, smiling and cheering, made up the exercise, dubbed a Monster Mash. The stations included: an obstacle course, weapons firing, self-aid-and-buddy care, a hand-to-hand combat test and a tire-flip challenge - all designed to turn up their normally scheduled fitness training a few notches.

"It's better than pushups and pull-ups," said Staff Sgt. Matthew Slagle, vehicle maintenance technician.

The training was designed to emulate the online combat readiness training which all Airmen must complete.

"It's basic Airmen skill sets like, marksmanship, self-aid-and-buddy care and fitness, " said Maj. Marcus Smith, logistics officer.

Senior Airman Mahendra Dataram, ground radio technician, said, "It's a good workout and pretty exciting too."

Tech. Sgt. Adrian Durham, pararescueman, who facilitated the self-aid-buddy-care portion of the exercise, said, "As operators, we do 'gut checks' all of the time because when you are out there in an actual combat situation you're going to be stressed."

"This gives them the chance to work with each other and help themselves," said Sergeant Durham. "And in turn, help us."

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