33rd RQS wraps up PAC THUNDER

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Angelique Bilog
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Korea --  Members of the 33rd Rescue Squadron and 25th Fighter Squadron brought exercise PAC THUNDER 2011 to a close Nov. 8.

The exercise was a success to all involved, and participants were able to meet their mission objectives while finishing a full day earlier than expected.

The exercise focused on completing the mandatory annual training objectives in order to stay current. PAC THUNDER also allowed the units to exercise their equipment, check for deficiencies and broken equipment, identify delinquencies and make sure everything works properly. The exercise also enabled the teams to identify packing lists for future TDY's and deployments; what to take and what they no longer need, as well as what their shortfalls are.

"The exercise identified some issues with mission essential equipment, and without putting the equipment to the test in this type of environment it would have been difficult to pinpoint all the potential problems ahead of time," said Tech. Sgt. Heath Culbertson, 33rd RQS flight chief.

Lt. Col. Pete Ortiz Jr., exercise commander for the 33rd RQS from Kadena Air Base, Japan, said the two units met all and even exceeded some of the training objectives. He said PAC THUNDER was also instrumental in preparing the individual helicopter teams to work together for their upcoming deployment; many of them for the first time.

"The training far exceeded my expectations; we have a lot of new guys in the squadron who haven't really done any CSARTFs [combat search and rescue task force] or much tactical flying for an extended period," Ortiz said. "Because we're on a small island and it's mostly admin flying we never really get to employ the conditions from take off to the terminal area and from the terminal area to recovery. I thought that was going to slow us down, but I was wrong."

One of the main points that Ortiz wants to drive home is the fact they can't get this type of training anywhere else in the Pacific.

"We can't do this back at Kadena," he said. "Flying in the Republic of Korea is very similar to flying in Afghanistan. The terrain is very similar and it is easy to fly around without the restrictions we have at home station. Here we are able to replicate combat flying all over the country."

Master Sgt. John Durbin, 33rd RQS superintendent, said the environment in Korea allows them to put the stress on their helicopter crews with the different types of scenarios, which is critical to their mission and something they are unable to do at Kadena.

"We can come here and put guys on the ground simulating opposing forces," said Durbin. "We can put guys in the air, in real aircraft above them talking to them, calling them on causing that helmet fire, giving them that stressor that we can't capture anywhere else. Because when they get downrange, 48 hours from when their boots hit the ground, they're sitting alert and can potentially be shot at. So allowing them to have those decision processes and those stressors here is crucial."

Durbin also said this training really helped the younger, newer guys realize what they're getting themselves into and what they are faced with in their upcoming deployment, allowing them to take a step back, reassess, prioritize and figure out what's important and streamline their processes.

"Experience is something you get a split second after you need it," Durbin said. "We're trying to give them some kind of experience to fall back on to, so they can learn from what they've been through and exposed to. I think a few guys got humbled on this trip which is very good because they may have felt more confident than they should on the flying side regarding their abilities and they may have had to take a step or two back; that's exactly what we wanted."

The 33rd RQS wanted to extend their thanks to the 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, for their outstanding support during PACIFIC THUNDER as well as the support from the ROK community for allowing them to be able to conduct their training without issue.

"The support here was outstanding, and really without the support that the wing gave us and all the supporting agencies that set us up for success, it would have been much more difficult for us," said Ortiz. "Now in day one instead of worrying about logistical issues, we're focused on the training."

Some of the units Ortiz wanted to highlight for going above and beyond in helping the exercise teams get through some major communications issues are the radio frequency transmissions systems and the cable antenna maintenance units as well as the 25th Fighter Squadron, who hosted them in their unit and made them feel at home.

Ortiz also praised the NCOs and officers, mainly Maj. Andy Gray, 33rd RQS director of operations, who organized and put the exercise together. Finally, Ortiz also recognized the maintainers, whose top-notch skills ensured all four aircraft were fully mission-capable for the two-week duration of the exercise.

"We pride ourselves in the rescue community that it's not just the operations side of the house but the maintainers as well," he said. "We have a great relationship with those guys. We didn't have one aircraft that broke while we were flying and I don't take that lightly, and I know it's because we've got the best maintainers around.I really appreciate the hard work those guys do."