Content was removed to align with the President's executive orders and DoD priorities in accordance with DoD Instruction 5400.17, "Official Use of Social Media for Public Affairs Purposes."

Closing the loop, Danish troops express gratitude

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Peter Dean
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  As a gesture of appreciation, Danish Army Soldiers traveled recently here to present a signed Danish flag to the 920th Rescue Wing Guardian Angels who came to their aid. In October 2011, the Danish Soldiers were part of a NATO foot patrol in Afghanistan ended due to life threatening injuries. [Guardian Angels are a U.S. Air Force weapons system comprised of combat rescue officers, pararescuemen, and survival, evasion, resistant, and escape specialists know as SERE]

With one wrong step and the unfortunate encounter of an improvised explosive device, the legs of a Danish Solider were ripped from his body, his flesh showered his comrades and smoke and debris filled the air. The rapid expansion of gases caused by the detonation of the primary charge sent shock waves hundreds of yards, spewing shrapnel and causing damage to all that was in its deadly path. Another Danish Solider in the IEDs devastating reach received facial trauma so severe that his nose was torn from his face. As the dust settled, the call went out, men down, immediate medical evacuation needed.

Guardian Angels and Rescue aircrew are strategically staged throughout the area of responsibility, standing by 24 hours a day seven days a week, poised to respond in an instant.

"You hear the crackle on the radio, followed by 'full house to the rock,' you know something has happened," said Staff Sgt. Brandon Forshaw, Reserve pararescueman, 308th Rescue Squadron. "Your training kicks in and you get an adrenaline rush, you don't have time to feel for the injured, you've got a job to do, get them out of there."

Once on site, the crew aboard the two responding HH-60G rescue helicopters, flown by 920th RQW pilots, surveyed the site, looking for a landing zone. With limited landing zone options and many obstructions prohibiting the rescue helicopters to safely land, the decision was made to insert the Guardian Angels utilizing the helicopter's hoist cable.

On ground Capt. Cody Atchison 308th RQS, CRO, immediately assessed the overall situation while PJs assessed the medical condition of the four wounded soldiers, categorizing them based on the severity of their wounds. Starting with the most severely wounded, the soldiers were hoisted to Forshaw who readily received the Soldiers in the rescue helicopter hovering overhead.

"These guys were messed up. One guy had three tourniquets on," said Forshaw. "We worked as a team to stabilize and evacuate them as quickly and safely as possible. The faster we can get them to a medical facility the greater the chance they'll make it."

According to Forshaw, the double amputee soldier is on the road to recovery, and continued with his plans to wed his fiancée.

"It's an awesome feeling to hear that his life went on," said Forshaw. "It validates our training, we're making a difference."

To prepare for situations they may encounter throughout their career, each pararescueman and combat control officer is tested physically and mentally for more than two years. Course after course, challenge after challenge, 90 percent of the men that attempt to achieve the distinction of becoming a PJ or CRO will fail. For the 10 percent that successfully complete the course, they will become part of the only Department of Defense specialty, trained to conduct conventional and unconventional rescue missions. They will also be among the most highly trained emergency trauma specialists in the U.S. Military.

The 920th RQW is the only Air Force Reserve Command's combat search and rescue unit, performing more than 20 percent of the Air Force's combat search and rescue missions (CSAR). The Wing is comprised of 1,800 Airmen and flies both fixed and rotor wing aircraft: the HC-130P/N extended-range Hercules and the HH-60G Pave Hawk.

For more information about the 920th RQW, log on to the wing's Web site: www.920rqw.afrc.af.mil or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.