211th Rescue Squadron

04/22/2024

https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/alaska-delegation-leads-effort-to-delay-alaska-air-national-guard-cuts-protect-defense-in-the-arctic

Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska

04/21/2024

High winds + poor visibility + early morning alerts = the reason we train as a Triad as often as we do. Across 3 squadrons, being comfortable with and trusting your wingman is imperative; all thoughts, opinions and suggestions are given due regard.

This played out in realtime Friday.

Proud to say we are the best Rescue force in the DoD!

By Friday morning, a rescue attempt by the Alaska Air National Guard was again halted by high winds, but improving conditions allowed the Guard helicopter and pararescuemen to land near the skiers by late morning.

04/15/2024

Training meets reality…. Again. Well done 210/211/212

With patients located deep inland, and conditions rough, the Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Wing's Guardian Angels were called in to help.

04/12/2024

Love it!!

| Arctic Guardian Rescue News |
𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐚 𝐀𝐢𝐫 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝟑 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟐 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center at JBER facilitated two personnel recovery missions at remote locations across Alaska in a 24-hour period April 4 and 5.

The first mission opened in response to an April 4 request from the Norton Sound Regional Hospital in Nome to medically evacuate a mother and premature baby from Koyuk, about 130 miles east of Nome on Norton Bay, to a higher level of medical care.

Civilian air ambulances were unable to carry out the medevac due to foul weather.

The AKRCC requested assistance from the Alaska Air National Guard’s 176th Wing, and the wing search and rescue duty officer dispatched a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk combat search and rescue helicopter and a 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II CSAR fixed-wing aircraft, both with 212th Rescue Squadron Guardian Angel personnel recovery Airmen on board.

The HC-130 extended the HH-60’s range by air-to-air refuel en route to Koyuk. The HH-60 landed at the Koyuk’s airfield where the team was met by a van that moved the Guardian Angels to the mother and child’s location. After assessing both patients and bringing them to the helicopter, the Pave Hawk crew transported them to Unalakleet about 75 miles south of Koyuk where both were transloaded to the HC-130 for transport to JBER, and a ground ambulance transported the patients to Providence Alaska Medical Center.

Another mission opened April 5 in response to a request for assistance from the Alaska State Troopers to rescue a snowmachine rider suffering from a broken leg about 30 miles north of Talkeetna.

Civilian air ambulances were unable to support due to poor weather.

After AKRCC notified 176th Wing of the request, the SARDO dispatched an HH-60 with GAs onboard.

The Pave Hawk crew located the snowmachiner, and the helicopter’s special missions aviator inserted the Guardian Angels by hoist who then assessed him and loaded him into the helicopter for transport to JBER where he was transloaded to a ground ambulance for transport to Providence.

Alaska Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Anthony Stratton, 176th Wing commander, commended the Rescue Triad of the 210th, 211th, and 212th Rescue Squadrons for their actions during the missions.

“Once again, the Rescue Triad has demonstrated their boundless dedication to our fellow Alaskans moving long distances and through extreme weather to get to those who need help,” Stratton said. “Guardian Angels, HH-60 and HC-130 crew members, RCC mission controllers, maintainers and other 176th Wing Airmen stand alert 24/7/365 to answer the call when we’re needed most.”

For the two missions, 210th RQS, 212th RQS and the AKRCC received credit for three saves, and 211th RQS received credit for two saves.

By David Bedard | 176th Wing Public Affairs

Photo caption: A 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II refuels a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk during training over Alaska Jan. 11, 2021. A 210th RQS Pave Hawk carried out two medical evacuation missions April 4 and 5, 2024, one of them with a 211th RQS HC-130, and both with 212th Rescue Squadron Guardian Angels. (Alaska Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Kelly Willett)

04/05/2024

https://youtu.be/CtUjCYGMypQ?si=FSGlpTHGW2daD-5k

Presented by Petrotechnical Resources Alaska (PRA) Members of the 210th, 211th and 212th Alaska Air National Guard Rescue Squadron pulled off a harrowing res...

04/05/2024

It’s been a busy week… don’t forget to take time to enjoy the beauty around. “Lady A” wishing a speedy recovery last night on approach into Anchorage.

“Sleep tight tonight… the Triad is awake”

04/04/2024

Part 2 - Well done team!

| Arctic Guardian Rescue News |
𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐚 𝐀𝐢𝐫 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐞 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝟑 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐝

Alaska Air National Guard rescue personnel of the 176th Wing medically evacuated a stroke victim March 30 from Bethel before rescuing two injured snowmachine riders near Ruby the same day.

The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation requested assistance from the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center to medevac a stroke victim when civilian air ambulances were unable to respond due to foul weather. The request was forwarded to the 176th Wing search and rescue duty officer (SARDO), who dispatched a 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II carrying Guardian Angel pararescuemen (PJs) of the 212th Rescue Squadron onboard.

The HC-130, callsign “King,” picked up the patient in Bethel and transported him to JBER with the PJs providing in-transit medical care. At JBER, the patient was transferred to a civilian ambulance for transport to an Anchorage hospital.

After two snowmachiners were injured in a collision near Ruby about 175 miles west of Fairbanks on the Yukon River, the snowmachine party activated an SOS signal on their satellite communication device. Following receipt of the SOS, the Alaska State Troopers requested assistance from the AKRCC who forwarded the request to 176th Wing. The SARDO dispatched the HC-130 and a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk, callsign, “Jolly,” both with GA PJs on board.

The HC-130 air-to-air refueled the HH-60 during the mission to extend the helicopter’s range. The helicopter landed near the snowmachine party, and the PJs stabilized the patients before loading them into the Pave Hawk for transport to JBER where they were transferred to a civilian ambulance and taken to an Anchorage hospital.

Air National Guard Col. Joshua Armstrong, 176th Operations Group commander, said the back-to-back missions showcased the capabilities of the Rescue Triad of the 210th, 211th and 212th Rescue Squadrons.

“The King crew worked a long day flying both missions, and Jolly had to navigate mountain passes in bad weather for more than a 600-mile round trip,” Armstrong said. “From the mission planning of the RCC, to King providing weather reconnaissance for Jolly, and PJs providing critical patient care, the Rescue Triad demonstrated we are always ready and always there when our fellow Alaskans need us the most.”

For the two missions, 211th RQS, 212th RQS and the AKRCC received credit for three saves, and 210th RQS received credit for two saves.

By David Bedard | 176th Wing Public Affairs

Photo caption: A 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II refuels a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk during training at JBER March 23, 2020. The Pave Hawk required refueling during a March 30, 2024, mission to rescue two snowmachine riders. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Grace Nechanicky)

04/03/2024

Alaska Search and Rescue is the epitome of an effective “Triad”. As Maj Geiges states, we needed the GA team, HH-60, and HC-130 crews all working is unison to affect this mission. Not mentioned was the follow-on tasking that took the crews back out an hour after transferring the patient to higher level of care.

Well. Done. AK Triad.

| Arctic Guardian Rescue Feature |
𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝: 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐚 𝐀𝐢𝐫 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐇𝐂-𝟏𝟑𝟎𝐉 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐈 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐜

Two Alaska Air National Guard Guardian Angel personnel recovery Airmen jumped from a 176th Wing combat search and rescue aircraft into the village of Kotlik March 22 to expedite medical care for a critically ill patient there before medically evacuating her to JBER.

The mission opened in response to a request from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation to medevac a patient experiencing internal bleeding from Kotlik to Bethel where a higher level of medical care was available.

Civilian air ambulances could not support the medevac due to poor weather in the region.

The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center communicated the request to the 176th Wing search and rescue duty officer. Upon accepting the mission, the SARDO dispatched a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk combat search and rescue helicopter and a 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King CSAR fixed-wing aircraft. Both platforms carried Guardian Angel personnel recovery teams comprising combat rescue officers and enlisted pararescuemen.

For most civil search and rescue missions in Alaska, patients and distressed residents are recovered by the HH-60, callsign “Jolly,” due to its ability to land or deploy its rescue hoist just about anywhere. Because time was of the essence for the patient, mission planners decided to jump a GA team from the faster HC-130, referred to as “King” by the CSAR community. Some refer to the aircraft as the “Rescue Herc.”

Alaska Air National Guard Master Sgt. Arnold Perea, 210th RQS HH-60 special missions aviator, underlined the importance of rapidly closing the distance.

“Our goal was to get to Kotlik as fast as possible,” Perea said. “We had the C-130 go out ahead to do weather reconnaissance and see what the status was over top of Kotlik because we heard there was bad weather there. When they got there, they could see that it was clear enough for them [to jump] since they can get there quite a bit faster than us.”

Maj. James Byrne, 212th RQS combat rescue officer, and Master Sgt. Daniel Lutz, 212th RQS pararescueman, said the patient’s condition made jumping an urgent choice.

“The patient had significant internal bleeding, she was experiencing low blood pressure and had a rapid pulse,” Lutz said. “That pushed us towards launching the Herc faster than we normally would, hoping to get blood onboard sooner rather than later. We retrieved two units of blood from the hospital: one unit on the helo, one unit on the Herc. We stepped out the door with the mindset of jumping to the patient, knowing the helicopter was going to be several hours behind us.”

Village residents were waiting with snowmachines at the drop zone in a field near Kotlik ready to bring the GAs to the village clinic.

Orbiting over the DZ, Byrne said they had to consider the three risk factors of ceiling, visibility and wind.

“We had the ceiling, the visibility was good enough for us to jump, and the winds were higher than what we typically jump for training, but based on the DZ location and the terrain, all of the snow out there, as a highly proficient jump team, anyone [in the 212th RQS] could have made that jump,” Byrne said. “As a crew we assessed the situation and risk factors and determined that it was still appropriate to conduct the jump.”

In an attempt to prepare for a GA jumpmaster-directed jump, Byrne and Lutz tossed wind streamers and an electronic wind drift indicator out of the aircraft door to measure the gales, but the devices’ swift disappearance in the weather rendered them useless.

The GAs turned to Maj. George Geiges, the 211th RQS combat systems officer on the HC-130 flight deck, who had all the tools necessary to calculate a good area to green light the jump.

“A crew-directed drop is one where the aircrew will pull tab data from charts and put it into the system on the aircraft,” Geiges said. “The system plots where we can release. It gives us a LAR, a launch acceptability region, meaning we can drop the jumpers anywhere in that area, and their chute maneuverability gives them the ability to steer a little bit, and that is plotted out from a wind vector.”

With the proper calculations made, the GAs exited the aircraft door into the cold, gusty Alaska night.

“Once we got out, we realized the winds were pretty manageable, so we turned and ran with the wind, traveling the 1.7 miles to the drop zone,” Lutz said. “Once we neared the target area, we turned into the wind and were pushed back the remainder of the distance to the drop zone. At 1,000ft, we disconnected our reserve static lines. If you cut away [the main parachute], the RSL pulls out your reserve. Doing this allowed us to cut away our mains on the ground and not be drug by the high winds.”

With as much as 80 pounds of medical and survival equipment strapped to their legs, the GA’s pulled the release on their 15-foot lowering lines, and their gear hit the snow before they did.

“The landing itself was pretty easy,” Lutz said. “It was a slight flair [of the parachute], and we both had stand-up landings and cut away the parachutes.”

At the clinic, the GAs met with the village health aide who had been providing medical care for the ill resident.

“She was a very sick patient,” Lutz said. “You could definitely tell by her color and vitals she had been losing blood.”

Byrne said the team had more work to do before loading her on the HH-60 that had made its way through weather to Kotlik.

“The most appropriate option was to be able to provide a medical intervention as quickly as we could versus evacuating her out as quickly as we could,” Byrne said. “We talked to a doctor in Bethel and relayed some of the information and the vitals we were seeing in real time, and then we were given the recommendation to push blood.”

The original plan for evacuation to Bethel fell through due to many of the same circumstances that prevented civilian air ambulances from responding.

“We were trying to transload her to Bethel, but there was a band of weather between Kotlik and Bethel, so we had to divert to McGrath and do the transload to King there,” Perea said.

With the patient and the GAs onboard the HC-130, they departed McGrath for JBER where the patient was handed over to the Anchorage Fire Department for final evacuation to an area hospital.

Geiges said the mission was unique because of the level of teamwork required.

“We call ourselves the Rescue Triad, but in a lot of missions, one element stands out more than others, and I think this mission is a perfect example of that Rescue Triad working together, each team was completely reliant on the others,” Geiges said. “We needed the GAs, the HC-130 and the HH-60 to get this mission done. I think it’s a great example of how that triad works here in Alaska.”

For the mission, 210th RQS, 211th RQS, 212th RQS and the AKRCC received credit for one save.

By David Bedard | 176th Wing Public Affairs

Photo caption: Framed by the tail of a 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II, a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk, carrying 212th Rescue Squadron Guardian Angel personnel recovery Airmen, sorties from Unalakleet March 21, 2024. The HH-60 transloaded Guardian Angels to the HC-130 before continuing to Kotlik for a medical evacuation mission there. (Courtesy photo)

03/27/2024

🙌well done Rescue Fam

The weather made it too dangerous for a civilian air evacuation. So the Air National Guard's 176th Wing took the mission.

07/28/2023

Congrats!

03/03/2023

03/03/2023

| Arctic Guardian News Feature |
𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐥 𝐀𝐬𝐚𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

A small armada of Iranian Qiam 1 precision theater ballistic missiles speared over the Arabian Desert, bound for targets on Al Asad Air Base in Iraq.

In the crosshairs of the Jan. 8, 2020, Iranian missile attack were Arctic Guardians of 211th Rescue Squadron. The missiles, far more accurate than the 1991 Persian Gulf Scud missiles, leveled bunkers, barracks and other key Al Asad infrastructure. Fortunately, no 211th RQS Airmen were in the targeted areas.

In a conspicuous demonstration of airmanship, the 211th RQS loaded their two HC-130J Combat King II combat search and rescue aircraft to the brim with squadron aircrew, maintainers and support personnel – three times – evacuating them to an alternate location and reestablishing the rescue mission.

For their actions, a dozen Arctic Guardians received awards, including a Bronze Star Medal, 10 Air Medals and an Air Force Commendation Medal during a Feb. 11, 2023, ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

Alaska Air National Guard Lt. Col. Patrick McBride, current 211th Rescue Squadron commander, recounted the actions of his squadron who were assigned to the 26th ERQS while deployed to Iraq. He said, following the receipt of critical and timely intelligence the night of Jan. 7, the squadron’s two HC-130s, callsigns ADMAN 11 and ADMAN 12, were sortied to evacuate squadron Airmen.

“ADMAN 12 departed at a nearly unprecedented gross weight with well over 100 souls on board – many with standing room only – with the intent of returning for a second loadout,” McBride said. “ADMAN 12 landed at an alternate operating location safely outside of the threat area, offloaded all passengers onto a taxiway, and was back airborne in under eight minutes.”

“The second HC-130 – callsign ADMAN 11 – departed Al Asad Air Base at a similar maximum gross weight and capacity enroute to the alternate operating location,” McBride continued. “The window of vulnerability for the attack began [late evening].”

McBride said ADMAN 12 crew members didn’t stop to think about the risks during their eight minutes on the ground at the alternate location.

“Despite warnings of imminent attack on the air traffic control radio, ADMAN 12 landed back at Al Asad inside of the vulnerability window,” he said. “The final 60 individuals were uploaded after Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong personally ensured 100-percent accountability.”

McBride said ADMAN 11 crew members were equally eager to return to aid their fellow Airmen from a regular Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter combat search and rescue unit despite the impending attack.

“ADMAN 11 landed and offloaded their passengers to safety, then immediately launched to return airborne as a communication and refueling platform for the Group’s three HH-60 helicopters and other assets airborne around the base,” McBride said. “[Early morning January 8], the first of 11 Iranian theater ballistic missiles struck the flightline and other nearby areas on Al Asad.”

McBride said ADMAN 11 became an aerial command center critical to the successful evacuation.

“ADMAN 11 refueled the HH-60s, resolved airspace deconfliction for airborne AC-130[J Ghostriders], MC-130[J Commando IIs], and MQ-9 [Reaper drones] while air traffic control and radar coverage were degraded, and they maintained an over-the-horizon communication link with the Joint Personnel Recovery Center,” McBride said. “As they remained in the immediate area, a second volley of missiles struck the base. The crew of ADMAN 11 then coordinated an emergency air refueling from a KC-135 [Stratotanker] to remain on station as long as possible to support the base post attack before finally recovering to the alternate operating location.”

After ensuring the safety of squadron Airmen, McBride said the next priority was the continuity of the Central Command rescue mission.

“As soon as it was determined the attack had ceased, the 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron was tasked to reconstitute the CENTCOM personnel recovery alert as soon as possible at the new location, which would require returning to Al Asad to recover as much equipment that was left behind as possible,” he said. “The third crew, under the command of then Maj. Jeremiah Brewer, became ADMAN 11, and they and ADMAN 12 both refueled and again launched with 40 personnel to assist in the recovery of critical equipment landing at Al Asad as rubble littered the smoldering flightline.”

McBride said both crews then completed two sorties back and forth, transporting more than 38,000 pounds of weapons, maintenance tools, communications equipment and personal belongings to complete the mission after more than 30 hours of continuous combat operations.

McBride asked all members of the 1st Expeditionary Rescue Group, the higher headquarters for 26th ERQS, to stand in recognition for earning the Gallant Unit Citation.

Established 2004, the GUC recognizes units that distinguished themselves by extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy of the U.S.

“As first responders to Al Asad following the attack, the rescue group’s decisive actions saved the lives of 255 Airmen and preserved combat search and rescue capabilities from the first ballistic missile attack on United States and coalition forces in over 30 years,” the GUC citation reads.

The Bronze Star Medal was awarded to Col. Joshua Armstrong, 176th Operations Group commander, who was then a lieutenant colonel commanding the 211th RQS at JBER and the 26th ERQS at Al Asad.

The BSM was established in 1944 and is awarded to any service member who has distinguished themself by heroism, meritorious achievement or service while engaged in an action against an enemy of the U.S.

Armstrong set the conditions for a speedy evacuation during an exercise in country where the unit practiced a large-scale mobilization.

“[Armstrong] forward deployed four expeditionary squadrons and five aircraft, validating operational plans for the contingent mass mobilization of rescue forces,” the BSM citation reads. “These efforts proved critical on Jan. 7, 2020, when the group received intelligence of potential missile attacks on several bases in Iraq. Intuitively, Colonel Armstrong executed a retrograde to remove the rescue group’s Airmen from imminent danger and to preserve the low-density, high-demand rescue capability of the two HC-130J aircraft and pararescue teams.”

The Air Medal was awarded to Tech. Sgt. Dustin Brown, Capt. Trevor Bunkers, Tech. Sgt. Michael Cashman, Staff Sgt. Jasmine Chavez, Tech. Sgt. Derek Hansen, Capt. Daniel Kozak, Capt. Matthew Soukup, Capt. Ben Van Alstine, Maj. Anthony Waliser and Maj. Andrew Williams.

The Air Medal was established 1942 and is awarded to any Airman who, while serving in any
capacity with the Air Force, distinguishes themself by meritorious achievement while participating in an aerial flight.

During his remarks, Armstrong highlighted the actions of the HC-130 loadmasters.

“Our loadmasters, led by Senior Master Sgt. Jason Apalategui, acted without hesitation, performed ‘aggressive loading’ techniques that I will argue hadn’t been utilized since Vietnam, loaded aircraft far above normal gross weights to ensure they could move as many personnel as we could gather up,” Armstrong said. “They flew directly back into a threat to grab the last of us, fully knowing they were risking their lives to do it.”

Lt. Col. Nicholas Miller was awarded the Air and Space Commendation Medal, which was established 1958 and is awarded to any service member who has distinguished themself by meritorious achievement or service, valor or heroism. The Secretary of the Air Force approved the renaming of the Air Force Commendation Medal to the Air and Space Commendation Medal Nov. 16, 2020.

“Lt. Col. Nicholas Miller was the director of operations of the 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron during this time and was instrumental in the success of this multi-faceted evacuation and support operation as well as flying on ADMAN 11 as the overall HC-130 airborne mission commander,” McBride said.

Other total force units at Al Asad operating HH-60s and CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft also earned awards, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, BSM and Air Medal.

Armstrong said the squadron’s innovative response was tantamount to Agile Combat Employment, the Air Force’s initiative to overcome the vulnerabilities of contingency bases.

“They were ACE before ACE was even cool,” he said. “They were able to act without direct guidance, manage the risk, and make great decisions in the face of danger.”

Armstrong concluded by saying, beyond the crew members recognized, the squadron’s maintenance and support Airmen were also critical to the evacuation.

“Please see the decorations awarded today as not necessarily for the individuals who are wearing them but for the 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron as a whole,” he said. “My brothers and sisters, you made the extraordinary look ordinary.”

By Maj. David Bedard | Alaska National Guard Public Affairs

Photo caption: Alaska Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Anthony Stratton, 176th Wing commander, awards the Air Medal to Staff Sgt. Jasmine Chavez, 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II loadmaster, during a Feb. 11, 2023, awards ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Chavez earned the award for her actions Jan. 7-8, 2020, in support of evacuating Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, during an Iranian theater ballistic missile attack. (Alaska Air National Guard photo by Maj. David Bedard)

03/03/2023

| Arctic Guardians rescue feature |
𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐚 𝐀𝐢𝐫 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞-𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐜 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐦

Alaska Air National Guardsmen overcame a range of severe weather conditions to successfully accomplish a life-saving medical evacuation for a pediatric trauma patient Feb. 22-23.

Midafternoon Feb. 22, the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center received a call for assistance from the Nome emergency services after severe winter weather prevented civilian air ambulances from providing medevac for a pediatric patient at Yukuniaraq Yungcarvik Clinic in Elim, Alaska, approximately 100 miles east of Nome.

The nurse practitioner on site at the clinic reported that the patient was suffering from severe trauma to the right arm, hand and fingers.

The 176th Operations Group commander, the AKRCC and the search and rescue duty officer immediately reviewed the weather reports with aircrew and confirmed low ceilings, high winds and moderate-to-severe turbulence enroute to Elim.

“This is one of the worst storm systems we’ve faced this winter,” said Alaska Air National Guard Capt. Daniel Warren, the SARDO responsible for coordinating the response from the 176th Operations Group. “It was high stakes. However, when a kid is in trouble, it changes the calculus.”

With baseline information in hand, two 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters on rescue alert at Eielson Air Force Base and one 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II aircraft on alert at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson launched toward Elim. Both aircraft carried a Guardian Angel team of pararescuemen and combat rescue officers from the 212th Rescue Squadron.

For nearly 12 hours, aircrews on board the HC-130J and HH-60G calculated and attempted multiple approach routes to Elim while navigating through the tumultuous weather at night. Unfortunately, they were unable to safely fly any further than Unalakleet before diverting to McGrath with help from the AKRCC controllers, the SARDO and volunteer pilots from the Iditarod Air Force aircrew grounded in McGrath due to the storm.

With no de-icing available to overnight at McGrath, the two HH-60G aircrews had to turn back and fly to Eielson, while the HC-130J aircrew returned to JBER.

While the aircrew rested, and the maintainers refueled and prepared the aircraft to fly again, the AKRCC, SARDO and rescue squadron commanders remained awake through the night looking for a weather window to respond.

“We worked through all available options, waiver authorities and creative solutions,” Warren said. “We were not leaving anything to chance. We had support from any asset that could fly or respond.”

The HH-60G aircrews at Eielson and an Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk aircrew in Bethel were placed on standby as soon as they met crew rest minimums and maintenance clearance.

“We even reached out to the Iron Dog ambassador snowmachine team holding in Elim (due to weather) and developed a plan where our Guardian Angel team would parachute in from the HC-130J and use snowmachines to transport the patient to a location where the HC-130J could safely land,” Warren said.

At first light on Feb. 23, the HH-60G and HC-130J departed JBER for Elim. Severe weather persisted but broke long enough for the HH-60G to land successfully at Elim.

A combat rescue officer and pararescueman stabilized the patient for transport and safely departed Elim for Galena where the patient was transloaded to the HC-130J for rapid transport to Anchorage where surgeons were waiting. While the HH-60G was on the ground at Galena, a second HC-130J was re-routed from a training mission near JBER to provide weather es**rt for the helicopter’s safe flight back to JBER.

“This mission truly captures the complexities and decisions involved in Alaska civil search and rescue,” Warren said. “Keeping with the spirit of the first Iditarod, this mission shows how much our Alaskan community comes together and flourishes when lives are at stake. Elim first responders, Nome doctors, Iditarod Air Force members, Iron Dog sled teams, Anchorage surgeons, 176th Wing and Group leadership, AKRCC, SARDO, aircrew and Guardian Angels all acted decisively, factoring in multiple dimensions of weather, patient status and the human element against the tyranny of distance to save a life otherwise lost.”

The patient was safely transported to Alaska Native Medical Center, and the limb was saved nearly 48 hours after injury. For this medevac, the AKRCC, 210th RQS, 211th RQS and 212th RQS received credit for one save.

By Maj. Chelsea Aspelund | 176th Wing Public Affairs

Photo caption: An HC-130J Combat King II aircraft of the 211th Rescue Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard, refuels an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter of the 210th Rescue Squadron during training over Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, March 23, 2022. Both aircraft work together with 212th Rescue Squadron Guardian Angels during rescue operations. (Alaska Army National Guard photo by Spc. Grace Nechanicky)