JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- The United States will deploy U.S. Air Force Search and Rescue and Aeromedical personnel as part of Pacific Angel 23-3 a joint and combined regional humanitarian assistance and disaster relief engagement led by Pacific Air Forces at the Rimba Air Base in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. The engagement promotes the interoperability of regional military, interagency, and civilian search and rescue (SAR) response experts, Sept. 11-15.
More than 100 Airmen and Search and Rescue personnel from various U.S. Air Force units will support the deployment of two HH-60G helicopters from the 33rd Rescue Squadron assigned to 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan; one HC-130J aircraft from the 39th Rescue Squadron assigned to 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida; and one C-17A aircraft from the 144th Airlift Squadron assigned to 176th Air National Guard Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. This will include Search and Rescue level engagement with the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) and Brunei Disaster Management Agency (BDMA).
These activities will focus on capacity building through exchanges involving aircraft and helicopter SAR operations (aircrew and maintenance personnel), casualty evacuation, emergency response triage and care, and infectious disease control.
Pacific Air Forces Airmen with RBAirF and BDMA previously worked together to shape the nature of the exercise. Pacific Angel 23-3 objectives are to further humanitarian assistance and disaster response capacity by facilitating cooperation between U.S. and Bruneian militaries, the U.S. Agency for International Development, host nation civilian medical and engineering professionals, and U.S.-sponsored and host nation sponsored nongovernmental organizations.
The U.S. military continues to strengthen relationships with regional Allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific through operations such as Pacific Angel, preserving peace and stability throughout the region.