HH-60Gs integrate with Army AH-64s for war missions

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan: Airmen and Soldiers here took integration one step further with rotary wing aviation operations in Afghanistan.

While the Army AH-64 Apaches and Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawks have flown medical evacuation missions together for some time now in Afghanistan, on Sept. 25 they flew their first joint combat search and rescue training mission.

"The idea is that if (we're given) a mission where the threat level is such that we need the support of the Apaches, we would be prepared," said Lt. Col. John Trumpfheller, the 33rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron commander. "It allows us to be more effective and more successful at doing combat search and rescue missions."

Before the training missions could be flown, months of planning and deliberation had to take place.

"We've done all the planning, we sat down and briefed and talked through a dry run," Colonel Trumpfheller said. "Our flight leads went out and briefed with the (Army) warrant officers and got a familiarization flight in the simulator."

Taking a crawl, walk and run approach to the integration, the aircrews were finally prepared to fly a training mission.

"The intent of the flight is to validate standard operating procedures for the HH-60G and AH-64 to operate together," Colonel Trumpfheller said. "We are practicing recovering isolated personnel while the Apache suppresses any threat in and around the isolated personnel."

Two .50- caliber machine guns provide the HH-60G with fire power, but integrating operations with the AH-64s provides even more coverage. The AH-64 is equipped with Hellfire missiles, rockets and a 30mm chain gun.

"While we have our own guns, we are coordinating who covers what areas and how we are going to employ weapons from both," Colonel Trumpfheller said.

With the first training mission complete, Pave Hawk and Apache aircrews are taking any lessons learned and preparing for their next joint training mission.

"The first mission went smoothly," said Capt. Tom Harley, an HH-60G pilot with the 33rd ERQS. "This says a lot of the joint training and joint publications. Practicing these joint techniques, tactics and procedures should provide for further alert coverage in higher threat environments."

"It's well worth the time spent on coordination. It's really a necessity," said Chief Warrant Officer Michael Nelson, an AH-64 pilot assigned to Task Force Shadow. "It's better that we practice this now before we have to do a real operation."

As training continues between the HH-60G and AH-64s, aircrews look forward to further integrating the combat search and rescue mission in Afghanistan.