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EMSWORLD.com | AUGUST 2017 25 used by the USAF rescue community. It is used as a long-range platform to drop PJs and equipment by parachute and/or land on short dirt airstrips. The C-130 is also used as a fast multipatient air ambulance once the PJs have begun treatment. Another fixed-wing being used is the much larger four-engine C-17 Globemaster III trans- port. It can also drop personnel and equip- ment by parachute. It is larger, faster and has a longer range than the C-130. NASA has plans to begin manned space flights soon, and the USAF will be providing PJs to perform any necessary over-water rescues. With its greater range and speed, the C-17 will be the jump platform for this mission. In addition, the C-17 can carry two HH-60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopters inside its cargo cabin. For very long missions—say, deep into the Pacific Ocean or other extremely remote locations—these helicopters could be transported by a C-17 to a location closer to an incident. Many PJ units work with local authorities to assist on civilian search and rescue (SAR) mis- sions as well as regional disaster response. For example, the 304th works with mountain- rescue teams in the Pacific Northwest. One of the big things they bring to SAR missions is their medical capabilities. "We've been taking a more active role in the Pacific Northwest for disaster plan- ning and participating in disaster exercises," Blanton says. "We also participate in large disasters all over the country and world. We were involved in Hurricane Sandy as well as Hurricane Katrina. We were lowered from helicopters to cut holes in roofs to reach victims and search homes and apartment buildings. We did both night and day mis- sions. We train for night operations and are very comfortable working rescue missions at night. In some ways that was better, because there weren't a lot of helicopters doing missions at night. During the day we really had to be careful to avoid midair colli- sions because of the large number of civilian and military helicopters in such a small area. "USAF rescue units saw a lot of action in Afghanistan, which was a combination of straight medevac and combat rescue mis- sions. We did a lot more combat medevac missions, but we also did things like vehicle- extrication missions for IED blasts involving vehicles with trapped soldiers. We carried vehicle-extrication tools as well as rope- rescue gear in the helicopters. We had extrication tools before Afghanistan, but it evolved to better equipment because of Afghanistan. We ended up with smaller, lighter, more capable equipment as the war progressed." Rising to the Challenge Personnel recovery has changed dra- matically over the past 15–20 years. Today's battlefield is not well defined. It can be difficult to tell the good guys from the bad guys. Rescue crews are involved with many coalition forces and civilians, and the enemy is now often hidden among them. In addi- tion, U.S. civilian authorities are turning to the military more and more for local and regional emergencies. As the role of the PJ shifts, they will adjust their training, skills and equipment to match the challenges. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Barry D. Smith is an instructor in the education department at the Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority in Reno, Nev. Contact him at bsmith@remsa-cf.com. 19494 GoHCL.com • 1.800.848.1633 ON–THE–GO? We Make EMS Essentials Fingertip Accessible! GoHCL.com GoHCL.com GoHCL.com • 1.800.848.1633 • 1.800.848.1633 For More Information Circle 20 on Reader Service Card