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303rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron Special Mission Aviator inspects Tail Motor on HH-60 Pave Hawk

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Caleb Hiner, 303rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron special mission aviator, inspects the tail motor on an HH-60 Pave Hawk during a preflight inspection at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti on Jan. 26, 2015. During the preflight checks, the aviators look for serviceability and to ensure the aircraft is ready to fly when they are called for a mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma)

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Photo by: Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma 

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303rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron Special Mission Aviator simulates ‘Stand Ready’ with GAU-2 Mini-Gun

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Antonio Jimenez, 303rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron special mission aviator, simulates ‘stand ready’ with the GAU-2 mini-gun at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti on Jan. 26, 2015. This position is taken if and when they need to provide combat air support during any rescue mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma)

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Photo by: Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma 

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303rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron Pilots inspect Control Panels during Preflight Check

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt Michael Parker (left) and Capt. Brandon Fesko, both 303rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron pilots, inspect the control panels during a preflight check at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti on Jan. 26, 2015. A preflight is held every three days when the team is on alert, to ensure everything is in working order and ready to fly. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma)

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Photo by: Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma 

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Members from 303rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron prepare to initiate Hoist Weight Check

Members from the 303rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron prepare to initiate a hoist weight check at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Jan. 26, 2015. The hoist was recently repaired and was checked for serviceability with a max weight of 600 pounds. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma)

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Photo by: Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma 

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303rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron Special Mission Aviator glances out of HH-60 Pave Hawk

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Antonio Jimenez, 303rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron special mission aviator, glances out of an HH-60 Pave Hawk during a 600-pound weight check at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti on Jan. 26, 2015. The Weight check was part of the flight inspection to ensure everything is operable prior to a mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma)

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Photo by: Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma 

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HH-60 Pave Hawk hovers 200 Feet above Ground with 600-Pound Load during Weight Check

An HH-60 Pave Hawk hovers 200 feet above the ground with a 600-pound load during a weight check at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti on Jan. 26, 2015. The weight check was to make sure the hoist was operational after being repaired. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma)

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Photo by: Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma 

Time is of the essence when it comes to someone sustaining life-threatening injuries in a deployed location.  With the capabilities provided by a combat search and rescue team, time is on their side knowing they are there when we need them the most.

This is exactly what the 303rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron is providing here as part of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.

“Today's Airmen are flying farther, faster and into threat environments that have never been considered before,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Brough McDonald, 303rd ERQS weapons officer.  “Being here is a challenging and rewarding mission.  It's not just a pickup game or a page in a checklist.”

The 303rd ERQS CSAR teams, made entirely of Air Force Reserve Command Airmen, are trained to take any lead during rescue operations in order to locate, generate, coordinate and track isolated personnel. By holding a CSAR alert here, the 303rd ERQS provides long range, adverse weather, and vertical lift capabilities in environments that fixed-wing aircraft cannot access.

“The HH-60 Pave Hawk is optimized to fly into, operate, and survive in a wide range of threat environments the Combat Air Force can find itself in,” said McDonald.  “From penetrating an enemy's integrated air defense system, to defending the survivor and team from threats, then hovering to hoist the survivor out at 7,000 feet.”

With the capabilities of CJTF-HOA providing a crisis response throughout Africa with our coalition and joint partners allows the freedom of movement to protect and defend U.S. interests and support our aligned regional efforts.

CJTF-HOA continues to gain professionals who are specifically trained to problem solve, integrate and execute any rescue at any time.  The the 303rd ERQS team of highly skilled pilots, special mission aviators and weapons maintenance airmen, conducts extensive pre-mission planning, rehearses the execution, and executes for mission success; ensuring whomever they have been tasked to rescue, is rescued successfully.

“The rescue mission at its core is about a group of Airmen going behind enemy lines, risking all to save one,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Antonio Jimenez, 303rd ERQS special mission aviator instructor.  “The mission and motto we live by is about sacrifice and being willing to risk everything.”

According to Jimenez, these Airmen act without concern of their own in order to save that Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine or Coastguardsmen who is in crisis.

Regardless of location or theater, the responsibility and mission of the 303rd ERQS is naturally their motivation.  History, both distance and recent, has shown what this community will do to bring home our own, their motivation is to live up to that legacy.

According to U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen Richard T. Kight, commander of USAF Air Rescue Service from 1946-1952, “It is my duty as a Pararescueman to save lives and to aid the injured. I will be prepared at all times to perform my assigned duties quickly and efficiently, placing these duties before personal desires and comforts.”

As the legacy continues to live on, so does their motto, “These things I do, that others may live.”