38 RQS prepares to tear

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nicholas Benroth
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  In their career field, they are faced with danger and put in situations where they must rescue an individual from an area that has limited access or is considered a "confined space."

Twenty pararescuemen from the 38th Rescue Squadron participated in a confined spaces training exercise July 26 at a local junkyard.

"The purpose of the training is to make sure they are ready to rescue someone trapped in a car or even a mine resistant ambush protected vehicle in a deployed environment," said Hmel Antonio, course instructor. "Each vehicle is different and they need to know the different spots they can attack to get access to the trapped people."

Most have not received this advanced training so it's new to most of the pararescuemen.

"The members who participated in this training learned skills they would need when responding to an accident at home and down range," said Mr. Antonio. "We give this training to help military members and civilians so they can handle different situations they may be faced with."

They have an assortment of different tools at their disposal so that if one method doesn't work, they have different tools to attempt the rescue in a different way.

"The most time-consuming part of a rescue is the extraction part," said Tech Sgt. Joseph Signor, 38th RQS team leader. "Being able to get out someone who is trapped by any means necessary is not always the easiest thing and the pararescuemen needed to know the quickest yet safest way to get someone out."

In a deployed environment, they could be under fire while trying to rescue someone from a vehicle. Knowing the quickest way for extraction means less time in harms way and a quicker response to getting to safety.

Training like this provides useful skills for the 38th RQS pararescumen because they may one day need to resort to one of these methods when put in a limited-access rescue environment.