CSAR training builds confidence for USAF, Icelandic Coast Guard

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jerilyn Quintanilla
  • 100 Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
KEFLAVIK, Iceland --  They're known as the Guardian Angels, a name bestowed on them because the men and women of the combat search and rescue community work to save lives, literally. Their mission is vital, their training is rigorous, and the satisfaction they feel following a successful recovery is unlike any other.

Personnel from the 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, England; the 58th Rescue Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.; the Personnel Recovery Control Center, Ramstein Air Base, Germany; and the Icelandic Coast Guard, came together for the first time for a CSAR exercise off the coast of Keflavik, Iceland, from May 7 to June 7.

The purpose of the exercise was to train personnel in the event a real world response is needed, and with the nature of the CSAR mission, the opportunity for them to learn from others outside their unit, service and even their own nation, proved invaluable.

"In this exercise, we were able to train with one of the most successful rescue organizations in the world," said Lt. Col. Lendy Renegar, 493rd EFS detachment commander. "The ICG averages 200 real missions a year - to say it better, they are experts. They gave us techniques and ideas we'd never seen or heard of before."

The exercise scenario simulated the recovery of a downed American pilot who had ejected and landed in the ocean near Keflavik. In the event this happened in the real world, U.S. personnel would work directly with the ICG to recover the Airman.

1st Lt. Everett Probasco, a pilot from the 493rd EFS, served a key role in the scenario, playing the part of the downed pilot.

"The scenario's main purpose was to use real-world personnel recovery channels to get me out of the water," he said.

The exercise was successful on many levels in that it gave personnel the opportunity to familiarize themselves with rescue operations outside the limits of a traditional training environment.

"I had the opportunity to use the actual equipment, which included deploying a real life-preserver unit and using a fully functional combat survivor evader locator radio without training stops," said Probasco. "This exercise built my confidence in the equipment, process, and the men and women who get the job done."

In addition to the mission successes, all participants reaped the benefits of working in a joint environment.

ICG Senior Commander 2nd Grade Walter Ehrat has been involved with joint operations and exercises in the past and notes of the opportunity to learn from one another.

"We participate in joint exercises two to three times a year," he said. "The exchange of ideas, procedures and seeing other units' equipment is very useful to us, and will perhaps lead to changes in procedures or equipment we use now."

Upon completion, participants from both countries left with more trust and security in them and in each other.

"The ICG men and women are top notch," said Probasco. "The aviators and rescue personnel are excellent at what they do and take great pride in it."