Search and Rescue forces hone skills in Pacific exercise

  • Published
  • By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tiffini M. Jones
  • Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii --  Two 613th Air and Space Operations Center personnel from Hickam were among the more than 300 U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force personnel who teamed with the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (CAD) to successfully conduct a search-and-rescue exercise (SAREX) in the South China Sea, Oct. 25-26.

Hong Kong SAREX is an annual exercise designed to train air crews and surface vessels on tactics and procedures to locate a lost vessel at sea. SAREX underscores U.S. commitment to supporting ongoing cooperative efforts with nations in the Asia-Pacific region, enhances multi-national disaster response readiness, and promotes regional security. The U.S. military has participated since 1976.

During the long-range search-and-rescue event, U.S. and Hong Kong civil aviation aircraft searched for a target simulating a lost vessel. This event included the guided-missile frigate USS Gary (FFG 51), which assisted from the surface; an HC-130N Hercules from the 211th Rescue Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard; a Coast Guard HC-130N from the 14th Coast Guard District, Barbers Point, Hawaii; and Hong Kong CAD J-41 Jetstream and an AS332 Super Puma helicopter. Despite adverse weather that made operations more difficult, the Air Force MC-130 crew located the target within 30 minutes.

"After completing one and a half legs of the search, the load master located the target and we marked the point," said Air Force Capt. Nicholas Miller, the pilot of the HC-130N. "The Gary came right in and picked up the target right after it was flagged."

After speeding to the scene, Gary performed a simulated rescue, and the Hong Kong CAD Super Puma landed on Gary's flight deck, performing a mock medical evacuation. As the on-scene coordinator for the exercise, the Coast Guard aided in the recovery by providing assistance with the search pattern and de-conflicting aircraft altitudes.

"The Air Force did an excellent job," said Coast Guard HC-130N Aircraft Commander, Lt. Brust Roethler. "Finding [the target] very quickly was a huge testament to their equipment capabilities and skill."

In addition to the joint training conducted by the Air Force, Coast Guard and Navy units, the ability to work with the air controllers and aircraft from Hong Kong's CAD was an integral part of the exercise. The rare landing of a civil aviation helicopter on the decks of Gary was a key component of the training and could help save lives in the future, said Cmdr. Thomas Bellit, one of the exercise planners from Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

SAREX provided continuation training and familiarization in search and rescue techniques for newly trained search-and-rescue qualified air traffic controllers, air crews and other search and rescue units likely to be involved in SAR operations in the Hong Kong search-and-rescue region.

A short-range exercise involving the People's Liberation Army (Navy) and the Hong Kong CAD took place after the long-range scenario. Civil aviation and military personnel from China, the United States, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand observed the two-day exercise.

The two-day event culminated in successful rescues in both the short-range and long-range scenarios, as the exercised enhanced cooperation and fostered understanding between the participants.

"Being a part of this exercise really helped me appreciate how combining forces and capabilities can enhance mission accomplishment. It was a great experience" said Capt. Daniel Counts, 613th Air and Space Operations Center, Joint Personnel Recovery Center, Chief of Plans.

In addition to the Alaska Air National Guard and 13th Air force (613th AOC) personnel, 4 security personnel from the 18th Security Forces Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan, participated in this year's Hong Kong SAREX.