305th ERQS outside the box

Published April 13, 2008
By Tech. Sgt. James Law
455 Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- Locating and returning downed pilots, aircrew and special operation forces in the area of responsibility has taken a back seat for the Airmen of the 305th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron here.

Filling a role outside their traditional Combat Search and Rescue duties, the 451st Air Expeditionary Group unit's mission under the tactical control of the Army is to provide aeromedical evacuation for injured International Security Assistance Force soldiers and local nationals.

Since January the rescue squadron, including the 33rd ERQS, is credited with executing more than 250 combat sorties, flying more than 260 hours while providing medevac coverage that saved 106 coalition lives.

Since deploying here in mid-March, the 305th has completed 51 missions -- providing overhead cover for 23, and executing 14 transports with injuries involving life, limb or eye and 14 transports with injuries other than life, limb or eye.

The unit accomplishes this mission with the unique capabilities of the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters.

"We'll go out with a DUSTOFF, that is the Army medevac, during the day," said Lt. Col. Brett Howard, 305th ERQS Medevac Operations deputy director. "They will generally be the primary aircraft, but they do not have weapons on their aircraft like we do, so well provide overhead cover."

The Pave Hawks are also equipped with Forward Looking Infrared. FLIR is a system that provides the ability to conduct operations at night and during periods of low illumination. This capability allows the unit to shift roles during night operations and become the primary mode of transportation with an AH-64 Apache as its escort, said Colonel Howard.

"We may get a patient who has received battle field dressing treatment or maybe somebody who has been packaged up at one of the (forward operating bases) that does not have the same level of treatment and care as what's available at Kandahar," said Colonel Howard.

There is no discrimination between patients; everyone treated is provided the same level of care.

During a recent medevac of an Afghan National Police officer who suffered a gun-shot wound to the leg, basic first aid was administered in the field to include splinting his legs for stabilization, according to Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Everly, 305th ERQS flight medic.
"When we got him I started an I.V., and continued medical care preparing him for the receiving facility here," said Sergeant Everly.

Sergeant Everly pointed out the forces in the field face challenges when administering medical care to the wounded.

"Their hands are tied because of whatever operations are going on (and) any bad guys in the area," said Sergeant Everly. "Once we get in the air and out of the area, we have the opportunity to do a little bit more."

Aero medical staging operations are a critical feature of airpower in the AOR. If a wounded patient is alive upon arrival at an Air Force Theater Hospital, he or she has a 98 percent chance of survival.

"We are here in Afghanistan supporting coalition forces and the Army's DUSTOFF program," said Sergeant Everly. "As long as our brothers and sisters are in harms way, I want to be here."