Alaska Rescue Co-ordination Center saves 2,000th life
The US National Guard has reported that its Alaska Rescue Co-ordination Center (RCC) has facilitated its 2,000th lifesaving rescue since 1 July 1994, when the RCC became staffed solely by Alaska Air National Guard members under the operational active-duty commander of the 11th Air Force.
The US National Guard has reported that its Alaska Rescue Co-ordination Center (RCC) has facilitated its 2,000th lifesaving rescue since 1 July 1994, when the RCC became staffed solely by Alaska Air National Guard members under the operational active-duty commander of the 11th Air Force.
The milestone mission took place this July, after a small propeller plane crash-landed outside of Talkeetna, Alaska, leaving two hunters stranded in the middle of the woods. The pilot of the downed aircraft, Bill Gough, of Vancouver, Washington, explained the pair’s state of mind as they huddled over a fire, wondering whether help would come: “Your hope is in being found; I don’t think I could have walked out of that area, and that’s something I don’t think people really take that seriously.” In this case, the outcome was a good one – Gough and his friend were rescued by the Alaska Air National Guard under command and control of the Alaska RCC.
The Guard reports that throughout the past 19 years, more than 5,000 missions have led to the 2,000 lives saved, with an average of more than five missions a week. Senior Master Sgt Robert Carte, RCC superintendent, reflected: “People know that when they go out recreating that if they get lost or in distress, they can count on us to come and look for them. Our mission is to provide a safe and timely response to aircraft events over the landmass of Alaska. In addition, we assist any other search-and-rescue agency should they need military assets and co-ordination, so we're often involved with ground searches and missions in Alaska’s waters as well.” Carte added: “It’s an extremely rewarding mission. We know the citizens and state depend on us, and it’s not a responsibility we take lightly.”
The Guard noted that aside from the assets of the Alaska Air National Guard and Alaska Army National Guard, the RCC relies heavily on the support of other agencies, including Alaska State Troopers, US Coast Guard District 17, the Civil Air Patrol, the National Park Service, North Slope Arctic Borough Search and Rescue, Alaska Mountain Rescue, the SEADOGS K-9 Search and Rescue Team, Anchorage Nordic Ski Patrol and various other volunteer search groups.