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Commander takes on new Guardian Angel unit, completes 'Rescue Triad'

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Melissa B. White
  • 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  Members of the 46th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron came together for an assumption of command ceremony, marking the arrival of their new squadron commander Sept. 2 at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.

Maj. Steven Simone, who is deployed from the 38th Rescue Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga., took the reins as commander of the 46 ERQS.

"It almost seems a bit strange to me to be conducting a formal ceremony when we stand here literally just a few miles or just a few minutes by a helicopter flight from a very real and dangerous enemy, and recognizing the fact that we could be called on a scramble at any moment," said Major Simone in his remarks during the ceremony. "It would almost be fitting if we did get scrambled right now -- that would be in keeping with just how busy the pace of operations is here."

The activation of this squadron is a mark in history for the Air Force at Camp Bastion, as they are able to bring the "Rescue Triad" together like it is back home. The triad consists of HH-60G Pave Hawk crews, HC-130P/N King crews and Guardian Angels, which includes combat rescue officers, pararescuemen and survival, evasion, rescue and escape specialists. The HH-60 is a helicopter designed for personnel recovery operations in hostile environments, and the HC-130 is the only dedicated fixed-wing aircraft for combat search and rescue missions in the Air Force.

"It has been a long road since the initial deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan in 2001, but today we now have HH-60s, HC-130s and Guardian Angels all together, ready to rapidly execute personnel recovery, casualty evacuation and medical evacuation at a moment's notice," said Major Simone. "Today, without a doubt, we are all better organized to execute these complex, dynamic and demanding missions."

These Guardian Angels, are specially trained and equipped to prepare and respond to rescue operations for combat or humanitarian missions and they work together with HH-60 and HC-130 crews to fly into austere environments when needed. They are among the most highly trained emergency trauma care Airmen in the military and must go through at least two years of training to prepare them for what lies ahead.

"Simply put, our mission is to save lives," said Major Simone. "Whether we are going into a firefight in Afghanistan or climbing atop the steep mountain ranges of Afghanistan, we will go anywhere, anytime, these things we do, That Others May Live ... To Return With Honor."