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CJTF-HOA unit conducts first bilateral rotary wing water operations exercise with French troops
A French Air Force member assigned to the Transport Squadron ET 88 assists with hoisting another French Air Force member and a U.S. Air Force pararescueman from the 82nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, into a French Air Force Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma helicopter during a bilateral water operations exercise in the Gulf of Tadjoura, July 3, 2017. This exercise marked the first bilateral rotary wing water operations exercise between the 82 ERQS and French forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eboni Prince)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Eboni Prince
Photo 2 of 8
CJTF-HOA unit conducts first bilateral rotary wing water operations exercise with French troops
A French Air Force Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma helicopter hovers over the Gulf of Tadjoura during a bilateral water operations exercise, July 3, 2017. The results of the exercise will aid in the development of standard operating procedures between Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa and the French Forces stationed in Djibouti for the U.S. and France’s mutual support of maritime rescue capabilities within the Horn of Africa region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eboni Prince)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Eboni Prince
Photo 3 of 8
CJTF-HOA unit conducts first bilateral rotary wing water operations exercise with French troops
A French Air Force member assigned to the Transport Squadron ET 88 is hoisted from into a French Air Force Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma helicopter during a bilateral water operations exercise, in the Gulf of Tadjoura, July 3, 2017. The results of the exercise will aid in the development of standard operating procedures between CJTF-HOA and the French Forces stationed in Djibouti for the U.S. and France’s mutual support of maritime rescue capabilities within the Horn of Africa region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eboni Prince)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Eboni Prince
Photo 4 of 8
CJTF-HOA unit conducts first bilateral rotary wing water operations exercise with French troops
A French Air Force Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma helicopter hovers over the Gulf of Tadjoura during a bilateral water operations exercise pararescuemen from the 82nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, in the Gulf of Tadjoura, July 3, 2017. The results of the exercise will aid in the development of standard operating procedures between CJTF-HOA and the French Forces stationed in Djibouti for the U.S. and France’s mutual support of maritime rescue capabilities within the Horn of Africa region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eboni Prince)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Eboni Prince
Photo 5 of 8
CJTF-HOA unit conducts first bilateral rotary wing water operations exercise with French troops
A French Air Force member assigned to the Transport Squadron ET 88 and a U.S. Air Force pararescueman from the 82nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, are hoisted by a cable to a French Air Force Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma helicopter during a bilateral water operations exercise, in the Gulf of Tadjoura, July 3, 2017. The results of the exercise will aid in the development of standard operating procedures between CJTF-HOA and the French Forces stationed in Djibouti for the U.S. and France’s mutual support of maritime rescue capabilities within the Horn of Africa region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eboni Prince)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Eboni Prince
Photo 6 of 8
CJTF-HOA unit conducts first bilateral rotary wing water operations exercise with French troops
French Air Force rescue personnel assigned to the Transport Squadron ET 88 participate in a bilateral water operations exercise with pararescuemen from the 82nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, in the Gulf of Tadjoura, July 3, 2017. The results of the exercise will aid in the development of standard operating procedures between CJTF-HOA and the French Forces stationed in Djibouti for the U.S. and France’s mutual support of maritime rescue capabilities within the Horn of Africa region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eboni Prince)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Eboni Prince
Photo 7 of 8
CJTF-HOA unit conducts first bilateral rotary wing water operations exercise with French troops
French Air Force rescue personnel assigned to the Transport Squadron ET 88 and U.S. Air Force pararescuemen from the 82nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, participate in a bilateral water operations exercise, in the Gulf of Tadjoura, July 3, 2017. This exercise marked the first bilateral rotary wing water operations exercise between the 82 ERQS and French forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eboni Prince)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Eboni Prince
Photo 8 of 8
CJTF-HOA unit conducts first bilateral rotary wing water operations exercise with French troops
A French Air Force member assigned to the Transport Squadron ET 88 and a U.S. Air Force pararescueman from the 82nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, are hoisted by a cable to a French Air Force Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma helicopter during a bilateral water operations exercise, in the Gulf of Tadjoura, July 3, 2017. This exercise marked the first bilateral rotary wing water operations exercise between the 82 ERQS and French forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eboni Prince)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Eboni Prince
CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti— U.S. Airmen from the 82nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, assigned to the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, and the French Air Force’s Transport Squadron ET 88 participated in the first bilateral rotary wing water operations exercise in the Gulf of Tadjoura July 3.
In two boats, teams of rescue personnel glided over the choppy seas for several miles until they reached their designated point. Pararescuemen donned their gear and made their way out into the water, all the while, scanning the skies for the approaching SA 330 Puma helicopter.
“The significance of this exercise was to work with our French counterparts and be familiar with the French aircraft, rescue swimmer procedures, and patient handling for maritime operations,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jason Fike, 82nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron.
The purpose of the exercise was to conduct aircraft, and crew familiarizations, and ground rehearsals, which is especially important since the United States and France provide mutual support to maritime and air operations within the Horn of Africa region.
The results of the exercise will aid in the development of standard operating procedures between the 82nd ERQS and the French Air Force’s Transport Squadron ET 88.
In addition, developing standard operating procedures will establish some shared expectations and needed redundancy in some very critical capabilities. For instance, in the event that the HH-60 helicopters were not available to be used, maritime rescue capability could still be maintained by using the French Air Force’s Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma helicopter.
“This exercise rehearsal verifies the French capabilities to assist the U.S effort in peace-time maritime rescue,” said Fike. “This ensures we are providing expedient recovery and medical treatment to any survivor(s) who need to be rescued at sea.”
