Pave Hawks prove to be vital for medical evacuations

Published Aug. 20, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Rachel Martinez
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- Flares and courage. When the Army's DUSTOFF medics take to the Afghan skies for a medical evacuation, this is all they are equipped with.

Sometimes flares and courage are not enough though. Under certain weather conditions, the UH-60 Black Hawks used by the Army are unable to perform medical evacuations. But that doesn't mean the mission stops.

The Airmen of the 33rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron are able to step in and perform medical evacuations with their HH-60G Pave Hawk. This was the case the night of Aug. 5 when low illumination from the moon and poor visibility due to dust prevented the Black Hawks from taking off here.

"It's a great opportunity to help out the DUSTOFF guys," said Tech. Sgt. "Mike," whose name is withheld for security reasons. "They've been doing this for a long time and if they need us to go, we'll help them."

In a 24-hour period the 33rd ERQS, deployed from Kadena Air Base, Japan, logged a total of 27 hours during five missions, saving nine lives.

"During periods of poor weather, the Army often calls upon the Air Force to conduct medevac missions," said Sergeant Mike. "We are always ready to use our capability to support the joint team."

The Air Force Pave Hawk is a highly modified version of the Black Hawk. It is equipped with a communications and navigation suite that allows for night and marginal weather flying. The Pave Hawk is also equipped with a forward-looking infrared system and color weather radar.

"We went in when nobody else could go," said Sergeant Mike. "That night we showed why we are able to fly in marginal weather conditions. No one else could go out in those conditions."

The night actually began when the 33rd ERQS was called in for a day mission because weather grounded the Black Hawks. After the first two-hour mission, the crews continued to receive follow-on calls for medical evacuations, sometimes while still conducting a previous mission. The night turned into a gas-and-go operation with few breaks.

"The last one was at an austere (forward operating base)," said Sergeant Mike. "The commander said we were the best suited in the (area of responsibility) to go get this guy, so we went. There was poor weather, but we were able to get him out of there. Our primary mission is Combat Search and Rescue, that is why we are here. Our training and experience easily translate to medevac."

The night turned into one of the longest surge operations the 33rd ERQS has experienced since deploying here this year. Sergeant Mike explained that while the missions are long, the satisfaction of saving a life makes it worth the hard work and sacrifice. Job satisfaction is always high after a mission.

"We get to see the result of our mission - picking up people and bringing them home," he said.

The patients they pick up are not always U.S. servicemembers. The medical operation here includes treating anyone with life, limb or eyesight injury, even if that person is an insurgent.

"War has different levels - saving a kid, saving an (Afghan National Army member) or bringing back an (enemy prisoner of war). It doesn't matter to me, either way he is a patient," said Sergeant Mike. "The most satisfying is bringing home one of our own."

Sergeant Mike serves as the aerial gunner on the Pave Hawk. He says the guns allow them to land in hot landing zones and gives them the ability to defend themselves and the guys on the ground.

"A lot of people would ask us why we want to do this. It is easy - so that others may live. That pretty much sums up everything," he said. "When everything else goes to hell, that's what we're here for."

Editors Note: In 2006 while deployed to Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan, the 33rd ERQS became the first squadron with a combat search and rescue mission and a medical evacuation mission.