Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Aubree Rundle | Army Sgt. Jeffery Willis, crew chief for Company C, 3rd General Support Aviation...... read more read more
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By Spc. Aubree Rundle
82nd Combat Aviation Brigade PAO
FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan—Recovering injured Coalition forces and Afghan National Security Forces in provinces such as Khowst, Paktika and Paktya, flight crews from Company C, 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade "DUSTOFF", based at Forward Operating Base Salerno, still manage to maintain proficiency in rescue maneuvers by conducting routine training operations.
As the only MEDEVAC element in the 82nd Airborne Division, Co. C, 3-82nd GSAB has flight crews based out of FOB Salerno, FOB Orgun-E and Bagram Airfield. They carry out 24-hour operations providing medical assistance to ground troops throughout their area of operations.
"We try to keep at least two hours a day open for training," said Army Chief Warrant Officer David Schmiechen, pilot for Co. C, 3-82nd GSAB. "There are times when mission demands don't always allow that training due to limited available flight hours, but the rescue missions we continue to conduct keep us ready."
DUSTOFF flight crews conduct training maneuvers such as quick approaches, dust landings, hoist rescue missions, and a number of other emergency flight techniques, said Schmiechen.
Recently, a flight crew based out of FOB Salerno had the opportunity to conduct a hoist rescue training mission using 1st Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment Commander, Army Lt. Col. Donald Kwan, as their "litter" or injured Soldier. Hovering overhead at 100 ft, the team lowered the hoist and a flight medic by a cable down to the ground to retrieve Kwan.
"The team did a very good job. It was good training," said Kwan.
Some training maneuvers can be conducted inside the wire at FOB Salerno, but other tactical exercises require the team to travel past the security towers.
"So far this tour, we've recovered two Soldiers using the hoist rescue maneuvers," said Army Chief Warrant Officer Glenn Richardson, pilot for Co. C, 3-82nd GSAB.
"With consistent communication and trust, our teams have been very successful while executing MEDEVAC missions out here," said Schmiechen.
| Date Taken: | 12.05.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 12.05.2007 15:53 |
| Story ID: | 14451 |
| Location: | KHOST, AF |
| Web Views: | 893 |
| Downloads: | 780 |
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