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thedrifter
06-28-03, 06:23 AM
Fox, 2/3, rescues downed pilot during TRAP
Submitted by: MCB Hawaii
Story Identification Number: 2003627122856
Story by Lance Cpl. Monroe F. Seigle



POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA, Hawaii(June 14, 2003) -- POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA - A pilot crashes in enemy territory and has sustained injuries that can be life threatening, if he is not evacuated and treated immediately. This is a realistic scene on many of today's battlefields.

Marines from Fox Co., 2nd Bn., 3rd Marine Regiment, entered enemy territory and conducted a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft Personnel (TRAP), then evacuated a pilot who crashed in a CH-53D "Sea Stallion" helicopter, June 14.

"This is a mission we normally do not do," said Sgt. Michael Stremmer, platoon guide for Fox Co., 2/3. "[However,] we were given a mission and we went out and did it. We gave an awesome performance, being this is the first time we have done a TRAP mission."

Once the mission is relayed to platoons, they must jump into action. A platoon-sized element is broken down into "sticks" to form security teams and recovery teams and then rush into awaiting CH-53D helicopters.

Once the crash site is reached, there can be a lot of dangerous unknowns lurking on the battlefield.

The crash site can be an ambush site, and the individual needing rescue might not be the actual downed pilot.

Marines who are providing security must keep their eyes and ears open at all times, and be on the alert for any enemy presence.

"Once you hit the ground, you have no idea what is out there," said Stremmer. "The enemy could have set the crash site up to bring in more troops to ambush them.

"You have to set up security around the crash site, immediately, and identify the downed pilot."

Once the identity of the pilot is confirmed, his wounds must be assessed. The rescuing team may find he is in shock and incoherent. The wounded must then be loaded on a stretcher and transported to an awaiting aircraft.

"A lot went wrong at the last minute before we reached the crash site," said Stremmer. "The pilot was not in the location we thought he was, and we had to circle the area and find his exact location before we could land the choppers.

"Once we found him, we had to hit the ground running and get him out of there as soon as possible."

The 2/3 mission proved to be a great learning experience as well as a successful one. The injured pilot was quickly identified and moved to safety, and the security of the crash site was not breached.

"We learned how to execute a secondary mission that we would not normally do," said Stremmer. "This is a realistic mission that can happen at anytime during combat," he explained. "I feel confident that if we needed to, we could pull off the mission successfully in combat."


http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003627123331/$file/stretcherlow.jpg

Marines from Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, tactically inserted themselves in a combat zone to rescue an injured pilot after he had crashed in enemy territor during a training mission at the Hawaii Combined Arms Exercise at the Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island of Hawaii, June 14. The Marines removed the pilot to an awaiting CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Monroe F. Seigle


http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003627124137/$file/loadingchopperlow.jpg

Marines from Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, rush into a CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter after rescuing a downed pilot in an enemy territory during a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft Personnel mission at the Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island of Hawaii, June 14.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Monroe F. Seigle


http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003627123653/$file/Inplanelow.jpg

Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, devil dogs prepare to disembark from a CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter and rescue a downed pilot during a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft Personnel mission at the Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island of Hawaii, June 14.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Monroe F. Seigle




Sempers,

Roger