48th Rescue Squadron Returns from Afghanistan

  • Published
  • By Maj. Jason D. Pifer
  • Commander, 48th Rescue Squadron
DAVIS-MONTHAN AFB, Ariz --  After spending four and a half months deployed in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Airmen from the 48th Rescue Squadron returned home Jan. 16.

It is with distinct pride I have the opportunity to write about the phenomenal activities and achievements the Airmen from the 48th Rescue Squadron accomplished on this deployment.

The squadron, which is part of the 563rd Rescue Group, left Tuscon last August, simultaneously deploying three separate teams to Kandahar Airfield, Bagram Airfield and Camp Bastion, all in Afghanistan.

With the help of three C-17s, the squadron sent approximately 60 short tons of equipment and 45 personnel between all three of the Afghanistan bases. The squadron's mission was simple; marry up with its HH-60G counterparts and execute 24/7 Combat Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC) and Personnel Recovery alert.

The 48th Rescue Squadron executed unbelievable rescue and recovery operations and logged historic amounts of flight time, saves and assists with the complimenting HH-60G aircrews.

Not since the Vietnam War has the Air Force rescue community been so heavily engaged and utilized in sustained combat rescue, CASEVAC and Personnel Recovery operations.

Specifically, throughout the deployment, the squadron executed more than 2,600 non-stop hours of rescue alert. This culminated in more than 1,800 helicopter flights, 315 saves and 695 assists. In addition to the daily CASEVAC alert requirement, the squadron also executed five joint personnel recovery events.

These recoveries included rescuing U.S. personnel after a Stryker Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast, the high angle recovery of an Afghan soldier who fell down a 50-foot well, the swift water dive, search and recovery of U.S. personnel who fell into a river, the search and recovery of a Coalition Soldier who fell into a canal after an IED blast, the recovery of U.S. personnel from an MH-47 helicopter crash and the high altitude (in the mountains) recovery of U.S. personnel after their plane crashed.

In locations with unknown IEDs and unsuitable helicopter landing zones, members of the 48th were dropped off via helicopter hoist. They also executed heroic medical acts in the back of the HH-60G helicopters. In combat trauma care each and every minute counts and speed is the key to success. The ability to quickly receive a task, respond on scene, infiltrate, assess, exfiltrate and treat the injured can be the difference between life and death for many U.S. military, Coalition and Afghan personnel.

Recently, the commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, emphasized the on-going objective of winning the hearts and minds of the Afghans, with continued emphasis on providing non-kinetic support to the maximum degree possible.

There is no better mission to fulfill that objective than that of combat rescue and CASEVAC. To date, the OEF expeditionary rescue squadrons have been executing approximately 50 percent of their missions in support of the Afghans.

At times, due to the ever fluctuating Afghan social environment, it is difficult to determine the exact affiliation of many of the personnel receiving medical assistance. Patients could be members of the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, Afghan National Guard, local nationals or insurgents.

Regardless of the patient's social affiliation, the 48th Rescue Squadron, and all U.S. Air Force rescue assets, stood ready to execute all CASEVAC missions.

There are certain security, escort and societal precautions taken into consideration with all Afghan personnel, but that did not detract rescue forces from providing critical and time sensitive medical assistance.

It is also with heartfelt sorrow that we must perform the task of retrieving and returning the fallen, but we would have it no other way. The squadron successfully recovered one of our fallen, draped them with the flag of a grateful nation and ensured they were returned to their loved ones for final resting. Regardless of the mission, the professionalism and dedication of each and every deployed rescue professional, is beyond comparison.

Each and every day brought a new challenge and situation to work through. Rest assured, all U.S. Air Force combat rescue forces are the most highly trained and the most favored rescue forces in theater. Personnel of the 48th Rescue Squadron demonstrated an immeasurable devotion to executing their craft as quickly and as professionally as possible. The 48th devotes itself to executing the mission on behalf of a higher calling and it was a distinct privilege and honor to fly and work with the finest group of professionals the U.S. Air Force has to offer.

There is not another mission area in the U.S. military as dedicated to a single task as the Airmen who execute the combat rescue mission. The motto that drives us has never been truer than that displayed by our HH-60G crews and Guardian Angel rescue teams in OEF: These Things We Do...That Others May Live...To Return With Honor.