"The exercise demonstrated and exercised the ability of the tri-national participants to respond to a major air disaster from first response through casualty stabilization and evacuation to a location that could offer definitive care."
Lt. Col. Grant Smith, Canadian Air Force, Arctic SAREX Exercise Director

Russian, Canadian, and U.S. team members carry a “victim” to a waiting aircraft for evacuation.

"Friendships that last, standing the test of time amid events beyond the control of a single leader or nation, are frequently the basis upon which to build cooperation and enhance peace."
Brig. Gen. Stephen Korenek, ANG Commander, Alaska Army National Guard

Each fall over the past nine years, the Arctic Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) has brought together the rescue forces of Canada, Russia, and the United States. Arctic SAREX rotates on an annual basis among Canada, Russia, and the U.S. Russia will host the next Arctic SAREX in the fall of 2003.

Brig. Gen. Stephen Korenek, Commander of the Alaska Army National Guard; Lt. Col. Grant Smith (center), 1 Canadian Air Division; and Maj.-Gen. Vladimir Popov (right), Acting Chief of Russia's Federal Department Aerospace Rescues, sign an “International Agreement to Continue Arctic SAREX.” Russia will host Arctic SAREX 2003. An aerial view of the six sections of the life size airliner model used in Arctic SAREX 2002 to simulate a major air disaster.

With Canada as host and Canadian Forces taking the lead, over 300 participants from the three nations came together for SAREX 2002 at Canada’s Gimli Industrial Park, a former Canadian Air Force training base. Canadian Air Cadets and Reserves still use several of the hangars and facilities on the field. Gimli is on the western shore of Lake Winnipeg, Canada, 80 kilometers north of Winnipeg. Arctic SAREX 2002 involved 20 Russian personnel, 43 U.S. members of the Alaska Air and Army National Guard, 225 Canadian Forces members and Department of National Defense civilians, and 50 members of the Canadian Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA). In addition, Japan sent observers to this exercise. For three days – 29 September to 1 October 2002 – Gimli came alive with military aircraft as SAR personnel from the three countries responded to a major air disaster – the simulated "crash" of an airliner with up to 50 passengers and crew aboard. "The exercise demonstrated and exercised the ability of the tri-national participants to respond to a major air disaster from first response through casualty stabilization and evacuation to a location that could offer definitive care," said Canadian Air Force Lt. Col. Grant Smith, Exercise Director.

Capt. Dave Muralt, Canadian Air Force, is assigned to North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) Public Affairs. Maj. Mike Haller, ANG, is Chief, Public Affairs, Alaska National Guard

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