347th RQG enhances life-saving capabilities

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Eric Schloeffel
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The 347th Rescue Group combined efforts to expand their combat search and rescue capabilities during a recent three-day test to Key West Naval Air Station, Fla.

The 71st and 38th Rescue Squadrons tested both the Hard Duck and Advance Rescue Craft processes; two techniques designed to increase the efficiency of rescue missions over-water, where every second saved can be crucial, said Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Marshall, 38th RQS pararescueman.

"These are additional tools we can use on rescue missions which can enhance our overall abilities," he said.

The H-Duck process consists of dropping a fully inflated zodiac raft out of an HC-130.
The rafts, which weigh more than 2,200 pounds and measure 15 feet long, were dropped from approximately 1,500 feet over an area known as 'Shark Water' drop zone, located in an inlet with land on both sides.

With winds steady at nearly 15 mph from the north, the timing of the drop needed precision to avoid striking land, said Capt. Jose Zuniga, 71st RQS navigator.

"We were right at the wind speed limits for the drop," he said. "The wind (affects) the parachutes, so our concern was if we released it at the wrong point, we could drop it on land. Fortunately, all our drops were exactly where they were supposed to be."

The H-Duck provides an upgrade from current techniques, which involve dropping a non-inflated raft into the water, said Sergeant Marshall.

"With the (old method), PJ's have to inflate the boat and get it up and running, which can take a considerable amount of time," he said. "We're also able to load more equipment inside the raft for mission-oriented tasks (since it is already inflated).

"It can save about five to 10 minutes depending on how the equipment is acting that day," the sergeant added. "Depending on what occurs in the water, those minutes could be really important."

The ARC capability is a cutting-edge rescue technique that involves a similar drop with a personal watercraft and is intended to give the 38th Rescue Squadron another life-saving tool to add to its arsenal, said Sergeant Marshall.

"This was the first ARC deployment in the history of active duty rescue," he said. "We can use the ARC for situations with rough conditions, or when we need to ferry passengers from an incident site to a larger vessel. It's an extremely useful piece of equipment because it can handle rough seas, and there is no risk of submersion. It's no problem if the engine gets wet."

During both drop scenarios, PJ's jumped from the HC-130P seconds after their gear and were tasked with removing the packaging and getting the equipment operational while remaining afloat in the 75-degree water.

"In the water, we learned how to get rid of the rigging and scrapes," said Sergeant Marshall. "It was basically a walk through procedure of what we needed to cut. We made sure we learned everything so we can teach the next level of PJ's who will eventually have to know this."

The 71st RQS also received their fair share of learning, as the process provided re-qualification training on container delivery systems- an important capacity for loadmasters working with the largest active duty rescue group, said Senior Airman Michael Mueller, 71st RQS loadmaster.

"This was an educational experience because it was larger than what we normally drop," he said. "It was challenging to utilize the space we had while allowing lanes for the PJ's, but everything went smoothly. These were unique pieces of equipment to airdrop, and I'm looking forward to doing it again."

They also reaped benefits from the uniqueness of the training experience, which can help the squadron prepare for future taskings, said Capt. Chris Portele, 71st RQS HC-130P pilot.

"It was a chance for us to get outside of our standard comfort zone, learn something new and give our crews more confidence to execute after just making plans," he said. "The trip allowed us to exercise new capabilities - not only with procedures, but also with the equipment we were delivering."

While the H-Duck and ARC methods aren't currently operational for the 347th RQG, with another round of tests scheduled in the upcoming week off the coast of Tallahassee, Fla., adding these assets to the 'tool box' is on the horizon, said Sergeant Marshall.

"We will soon begin testing these (concepts) with mission scenarios," he said. "These capabilities are being utilized to save lives and advance the rescue community, and I'm 100 percent sure they will do that."