An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

451st AEW PJ crews fly into hostile zones to save lives

  • Published
  • 451 Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan --  All over Afghanistan the unit is known by their call sign: "PEDRO."

The men and women of the 41st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron is truly a coalition of rescue professionals. The majority of the unit is comprised mainly of members from the 41st Rescue Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga., but the unit also includes aircrew, pararescuemen or PJs, and support personnel from the 55th Rescue Squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., the 66th RQS at Nellis AFB, Nev., and the 304th RQS, a pararescue squadron from Portland, Ore.

The mission of the team is to provide around-the-clock personnel recovery commonly known as combat search and rescue, said Maj. Christopher Escajeda, director of operations, 41st ERQS.

But unlike past wars where aircraft were lost every week, the mission here in Afghanistan has changed. U.S.A.F. rescue units have taken on an additional role here in Regional Command-South.

They now conduct casualty evacuation as well, Major Escajeda said.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has required teams to respond within 60 minutes from the time a medical alert drops, to wheels down at a medical facility, transferring a patient to a higher level of care--a concept commonly referred to as the "Golden Hour," he said.

Crews work on a 24/7 operations tempo and are always on alert. Often referred to as the "9-1-1 of southern Afghanistan," the squadron provides critical medical care not only for all ISAF members, but also for local Afghan civilians, Afghan National Army and Police. Forty to 50 percent of their operations result in the medical evacuation and care of Afghans.

"What makes the Pedros unique compared to other medical evacuation teams is their training and equipment - they use their personnel recovery and CSAR skill-set to conduct CASEVAC quicker and better than anyone in theater," said Major Escajeda.

They are able to go into hostile situations to rescue downed aircrew or ground forces and have the defensive capabilities to protect their aircraft and troops on the ground.

Pararescuemen and combat rescue officers are specially trained for a variety of situations, to include mountaineering, skydiving, and scuba diving, in addition to a variety of specialty training in weapons and rescue equipment.

What makes them unique is all pararescuemen are trained paramedics and emergency medical technicians.

HH-60G Pave Hawk aircrew go through years of extensive training to include low level
terrain flight, instrument and night vision goggle use, shipboard operations, and helicopter aerial refueling.

They are some of the world's best trained aviators and can fly in any environment, anywhere in the world, he said.

"Everyday these Air Force warriors go into harm's way, ready and willing to do whatever it takes to get to those in need. Risking their lives, they hold true to their motto: These things we do so that others may live," he said.

"Many people ask about the name 'PEDRO.' It's a legacy call sign that reaches back to the early 1960's and the HH-43 helicopter--the first rescue helicopter used in Vietnam," said Major Escajeda. It was eventually replaced by the HH-53, known as the "Jolly
Green."