OCR Text |
Show HILL Friday, Mountains oceans) hoisted onto the aircraft for transport By Chris Moenich Ogden ALC Public Affairs Office They're trained to locate and recover aircrew members or aerospace hardware, 24 hours a day, in any climate and on any terrain. They receive extensive emergency medical schooling and maintain endurance through daily exercise combined with seasonal outdoor then-physic-al . survival trips. They parachute from airplanes, scuba dive in salt and fresh water, and repel down mountainsides. They're the few of the lucky Air Force enlisted who have qualified for the job of pararescue working with the rescue and recovery units, including Det. 4 at Hill AFB. TSgt. Michael Brown has been Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the pararescue team here since September. The 10 on his crew are called "PJs," a name which stuck after the creation of the first unit, who were predominantly parachute jumpers, in the 1940s. There are now about 300 PJs in the Air Force. "Our job is to get the guy and keep him alive until more medical treatment can be reached," the sergeant said.' Det. 4 and pararescue teams assist in emergencies requiring a hoist, which is a 240-fosteel cable attached to a winch. The PJs are lowered to the victim on a seat called a penetrator carrying medical supot plies. The helicopter crew lowers more equipment as needed. A recent rescue here, for example, man who had involved a fallen while hunting in Durst Mountain near Morgan. The man, who was 76-year-o- ld near hypothermic conditions, was given emergency medical help and to the hospital Other trips aren't so lucky, like the time last year when Hill AFB crews TOP TIMES Novmbf 1, 1985 mmigg)iuuwmim mum mvmimiiiifmfmmmjmmmm assisted in a recovery which turned up a body frozen under an early snow during the hunting season. "Sometimes we're called in too late," Sergeant Brown said. "We're not competing with the private rescue services, yet they usually don't call us in until they need the hoist." for their misPJs train year-roun-d sions. Several weeks are taken each year for survival training. In the winter, depending on the climate, they may spend a week sleeping in snow shelters and walking the terrain in snowshoes. Backpacking is popular in the summer, spring and fall. Then, there is a yearly scuba diving trip and a parachute jump at least once every 90 days. They are allowed two hours each day for physical exercise, like running. Medical training includes annual hospital visits to do four intravenous insertions. Every three k course years they attend a at Kirtland AFB, N.M. Medical emergencies are staged 90 days apart and may include rescue operations along It t ' two-wee- with the emergency first aid. Sergeant Brown believes PJs have the best job for an enlisted man in the Air Force. He enlisted when he was 17 and at age 18 was one among seven of 10,500 applicants who made it through pararescue training. Women are automatically disqualified because of the combat-relate- d mission.; Formal training begins with six weeks of physical conditioning, followed by several weeks schooling in parachute jumping, scuba diving, sur-- (U.S. Air Force Photo) SSgt. Steven Nelson inspects the hoist used by pararescue men to recover combat and accident victims. The hoist can be fitted with a seat for lowering the emergency medic and a wire basket for lifting the victim. vival, emergency medicine, combat readiness, land navigation and mountain rescue. The PJ is ready for his first station in about one year. Sergeant Brown came to Hill for the chance to take over his own pararescue team. Over the past 13 years in the Air Force he has been stationed in California, Thailand and England and has loved every minute of it. Although he cannot really put a finger on his favorite aspect, he finds it challenging, physically demanding, rewarding and all those other attributes of a satisfying career. "I've been asked a million times what I like about it," he said. "All I know is that I feel real good whenever I'm on a mission. What more could I ask?" M$ Rife 0vv itm$ Degree Programs The University of Phoenix in Salt Lake City offers degree programs designed for the working adult. Attend class once each week Evening or weekend classes Convenient class locations. Workshops and seminars complement lectures All faculty hold Masters or Doctors degrees . Faculty members are practicing professionals Course content designed to meet demands of business and industry. Month Bachelors Degree Completion Program requires Approximately Two Years College Credit Significant Degree Related Work Experience requires Accredited Undergraduate Degree ManagementProject Leadership NOW FORMING The University of gj Phoenix Green Street Salt Lake City , Utah 84123 (801) 263-14- 44 Your Diamonds From Kay Jewelers Are Protected With Our Exclusive Lifetime Diamond Replacement Guarantee 22 Month MBA Program CLEARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES 5251 I I sra obstacle f rescueirs .Business 13 m m I EWE L E R S The diamond people Use Our Charge Plan or Any Major Credit Card. NEWGATE MALL: 303-005- 1 OGDEN CITY MALL: 393-594- 1 1983 Kay Jewelers, Inc. |