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Philippine
Marines during Exercise Balikatan.
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U.S. Marine prepares to engage hostile forces after an Exercise
BALIKATAN amphibious landing |
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Air
operations cross-training consisted of planning, command and control
and executing combined/joint combat air operations; search and rescue;
tactical operations; air defense; and airdrop operations. Philippine
Air Force (PAF) participation covered a range of air operations, including
low speed bundle-drop missions, air-intercept missions, drop-zone controller
training, practical para-drop marking, flying missions, shipboard landing
operations (static), day water operations, gunnery missions, and water
operations at Subic Bay.
One highlight was the combined team composed of U.S. and Philippine
military pararescue personnel that carried out a mass casualty training
session. Ten PAF and five U.S. Air Force (USAF) troops descended
on Basa Air Base, Philippines, to rescue the "survivors" of
a simulated C-130 cargo aircraft crash. These were mock-injured
crew and passengers of an aircraft whose landing gear failed while attempting
to land, causing the fuselage to land directly on the concrete.
"Our mission is to get to the scene of the accident as fast as
we can, find survivors, and prioritize which of the injured people had
to be evacuated first," said Staff Sgt. Jeremy Hardy, a USAF pararescue
specialist from the 33rd Rescue Squadron from Kadena Air Base, Japan.
After notification of the aircraft accident, the USAF/PAF team raced
to the crash site aboard two helicopters - a USAF HH-60G Pavehawk and
a PAF UH-1.
Scores of people with multiple "injuries" littered the runway.
Working under a scorching tropical heat and humidity, the team faced
a tough challenge tending to injuries ranging from amputations, burns,
head traumas and broken bones. With medical kit in hand, the team
immediately treated those with the most serious problems. After
setting up a casualty collection point, the team transported the patients
- four at a time - aboard the helicopters. It took three trips
to evacuate all the survivors to Clark International Airport.
Both sides learned from each other during these real actions conducted
for simulated events. Master Sgt. Arsenio Herlihy, a USAF pararescue
specialist, observed, "This training worked out great for both
of us. We showed them how we use our equipment and at the same
time, we also learned from their techniques. Although the PAF
doesn't have the same equipment we have, they do a great job of improvising.
We learned a lot of things from them today."
Staff Sgt. Hardy stated that, "Ideally, a patient has to be under
medical care within the 'golden hour' [for] a better chance of survival."
He pointed out that the combined Philippine-U.S. team accomplished this
in 50 minutes. He noted another benefit of the training was the
chance to become more familiar with the Philippine terrain, "in
case we have to conduct a real- world rescue."
Aside from the mass casualty exercise, both forces practiced jungle
survival, water rescue, fast rope, helicopter rappelling, and search
and rescue operations.
The two countries' troops also cross-trained in deployment tactics and
techniques. The centerpiece for this training was establishing
an Intermediate Staging Area (ISA) at Clark International Airfield for
reception, staging and onward movement. The ISA also helped integrate
U.S. forces deploying to the Philippines for BALIKATAN 2001. The
staging area was a one-stop shop, providing logistical support, arrival
and departure services, force protection, chaplain, medical, transient
and contract/fund control support.
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