Angel Thunder 2010

An Army Special Forces medic keeps a watchful eye out for attackers as a UH-1N makes a safe departure from the area during a combat search and rescue exercise as part of Angel Thunder 2010 in Southern Arizona April 19. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Jerilyn Quintanilla)

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Angel Thunder 2010

Pararescuemen from the 38th Rescue Squadron carry medical supplies across a stretch of Southern Arizona desert during an earthquake-response exercise April 19. In the scenario, which was part of Angel Thunder 2010, pararescuemen’s first training objective job was to find and treat mock survivors. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Jerilyn Quintanilla)

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Angel Thunder 2010

Pararescuemen from the 38th Rescue Squadron assemble a PRC-152 radio April 19 during an earthquake-response exercise scenario as part of Angel Thunder 2010 in Southern Arizona. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Jerilyn Quintanilla)

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Angel Thunder 2010

An Army Special Forces medic treats Darryl Leuseur, an Army Reserve Officer Training Corps MSII cadet from the University of Arizona, after sustaining injuries during a simulated earthquake scenario as part of combat search and rescue exercise Angel Thunder 2010 in Southern Arizona April 19. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Jerilyn Quintanilla)

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Angel Thunder 2010

An army Special Forces medic eyes a UH-1N preparing to land during a combat search and rescue exercise as part of Angel Thunder 2010 in Southern Arizona April 19. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Jerilyn Quintanilla)

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Angel Thunder 2010

Pararescuemen and an Army Special Forces personnel carry a mock earthquake survivor in need of medical treatment to a UH-1N as part of a combat search and rescue exercise during Angel Thunder 2010 in Southern Arizona April 19. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Jerilyn Quintanilla)

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Angel Thunder 2010

A UH-1N prepares to take off as the combat search and rescue exercise Angel Thunder 2010 kicks off in Southern Arizona April 19. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Jerilyn Quintanilla)

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Photo essay: Angel Thunder 2010 provides earthquake response training

Published April 23, 2010
By Airman Jerilyn Quintanilla
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Angel Thunder 2010, an Air Combat Command-sponsored personnel recovery exercise, ended here April 23 after 10 days of intense training. Angel Thunder is a joint-service, multinational, interagency exercise designed to provide realistic personnel recovery training using a variety of scenarios to simulate deployment conditions and contingencies, and scenarios to simulate natural disasters in the United States and abroad.

Personnel recovery forces trained through the full spectrum of personnel recovery capabilities with approximately 250 ground recovery personnel, comprised of personnel from the Air Force Guardian Angel and Special Tactic teams, Army Special Forces and federal special agents. One mission presented participants with an earthquake-response scenario, requiring joint aviation and ground personnel to test their ability to treat and evacuate natural disaster victims.

Scroll through the photos for scenes of the event.