HC-130P crews provide in-flight care during CSAR test

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Spencer Gallien
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Editor's note: This is the final part of a two-part series on a recent 347th Rescue Group mass-casualty exercise. The exercise demonstrated the cooperation that exists between the different aspects of Moody's rescue mission. 


When the professionals of the 347th Rescue Group were called upon during a recent mass-casualty helicopter crash drill here June 25, they turned to the only team capable of delivering rescue forces and supplies quickly, providing coordination and control while there, and then transporting the many injured Airmen out of harm's way.

These are capabilities only found in the HC-130P King, flown by the 71st Rescue Squadron.

The 71st RQS portion of the exercise began with a high-altitude low-opening parachute jump by 38th RQS pararescuemen over the crash site from 10,000 feet. The Kings then circled above, providing airborne mission command and control to ground forces and recovery helicopters.

Wounded Airmen were brought from the crash site to an accessible landing field by 41st RQS HH-60G Pave Hawks. The HC-130P crew then completed the mission by providing victims with further medical care during a high-speed transport to the nearest hospital.

"This kind of exercise is something we don't get to perform very often," said Capt. Scott Swigert, 71st RQS co-pilot. "We are able to see our strengths as well as some of the areas we need to work on."

Captain Swigert pointed out that their crew worked together very well to accomplish the mission; although there were areas that he felt could be improved upon.

"Interoperability between the units could have been improved," he added. "Something we don't get to do very often is work with ground forces and other units to help accomplish the mission. This kind of training allows us to grow together and be prepared to work together in a real-world environment."

While the Pave Hawks are able to enter much smaller crash sites and quickly move small numbers of injured survivors to safety, they lack the internal space and range to transport a large number of injured survivors and simultaneously provide medical care en-route to distant medical facilities.

This is a perfect role for the rescue-specialized HC-130P. It has the ability to extend the limited range of helicopters such as the HH-60G with its in-flight refueling system. It also has plenty of room for litters and a complement of flight surgeons trained to provide advanced medical care.

"As flight doctors, we are responsible for medical supervision of the entire scenario," said Capt. Joseph Pugh, 38th RQS flight surgeon. "This exercise was the largest one I've been a part of. It's also the first time we've combined efforts with four squadrons including the 38th, 41st and 71st RQS and the 822nd Security Forces Squadron to create such a large-scale mass-casualty exercise."

For Staff Sgt. Ryan Conti, 71st RQS flight engineer, this was the first exercise of any type he has participated in as an engineer on the HC-130P.

"This was a very good experience for us," said Sergeant Conti. "Compared to a normal training flight, this was much more fast-paced. So much was happening at once that just doesn't occur on a normal basis. It was much more life-like."

During an operation in a deployed environment, Airmen would not know what to expect until a no-notice rescue tasking is received, said Captain Swigert. This exercise provided the unpredictability that an actually mission may bring, he added.

In total, 12 Airmen manned the HC-130P for the exercise. Three pilots, two navigators, a flight engineer, three loadmasters, two flight doctors and a radio operator all worked together as a single entity.

"Overall, the exercise was a success," said Captain Pugh. "For the number of simulated patients and assets coordinated, it was an excellent training scenario. I really look forward to working with the rescue squadrons and 820th Security Forces Group in future exercises."