US Air Force carries out first-time rescue exercises alongside Army

The Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters carried out the training exercise off the coast of Okinawa on 10 November, rendezvousing with two US Army Runnymede-class large landing craft which set off from the White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa, Japan.

An hour after the ships’ departure, a simulated distress signal was sent, and the two helicopters reached the landing craft within approximately 15 minutes. From there, the helicopters worked through a list of exercises, first lowering a single pararescue jumper to the deck of their respective ship, then a pair at the same time, then one carrying the casualty collection basket, before hoisting all four back into the helicopters.
Practice continued into the evening, with the Pave Hawks employing night vision in the low light.

The training is designed to streamline communications between the sister services and introduce the Runnymede-class large landing craft to airmen.

Army landing craft are staffed with a medic but lack the facilities to do prolonged treatment in the event of an emergency. The ability to successfully dispatch medical rescue helicopters is therefore vital for the survival of any potential patients onboard the vessels.

“One of the challenges is going to be the communications between us and the helicopter, making sure we’re on the same heading as well as the speed,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Sean Meenan, Captain of Fort McHenry in an interview with Stars and Stripes. “The landing craft - with masts on the bow and stern - has to be positioned properly to accept the PJs. The sea state is also a factor.”

The US Army also previously unveiled a new Black Hawk variant, designated UH-60V, at a ceremony in Pennsylvania last month.