Guardian Angel Team: US & Italian Forces High-Flying Rescue Training Pictured In Action
This is what it looks like to jump out of a military aircraft at 10,000 feet as British-based US Air Force airmen are seen honing their rescue skills alongside their Italian allies.
The Guardian Angel teams of the 57th Rescue Squadron (57th RQS) are captured in action taking part in Exercise Ares Shadow at Aviano Air Base in Italy.
It is a US-led personnel recovery exercise involving airmen, special forces troops and members of the Italian armed forces.
Lieutenant Colonel Jose Cabrera, 57th RQS commander, said: "Exercises like Ares Shadow improve interoperability and improve the relationship with our partners.
"It gives us a chance to work together, which we don't have often since we train usually on our own."
The squadron is currently based at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, but is to relocate to Aviano Air Base next year.
During the exercise, pararescuemen and combat rescue officers performed static-line and high-altitude, low-opening jumps, as well as jumps with the Italian navy.
During one jump, a Guardian Angel team practised rescuing a downed pilot. Lt. Col. Cabrera said: "It was unique in the sense that it gave us an opportunity to employ our long-range rescue capabilities. We launched from Lakenheath on a C-130 and parachuted in a Guardian Angel team in Aviano to execute the recovery of downed airman. That team and the survivor were recovered by an Italian HH-101 helicopter.
"It gave us an opportunity to work with the host nation here, compare and contrast our [tactics, techniques and procedures] and work on our interoperability to be able to perform personnel recovery."
Exercise Ares Shadow gave the rescue squadron a taste of what's to come when they relocate next summer.
"Being able to come out here and train with the Italians a year ahead of time gives us the opportunity to figure out how the ranges here in Italy work, how the procedures for airdrop operations work and also what capabilities are out here that we can share with the Italians and the army paratroopers," said Lt. Col. Cabrera.
Major Nick Morgans, 57th RQS Detachment 1 commander, said: "This is the first time we have executed a jump with any Italian unit. As the 57th Rescue Squadron transitions from Lakenheath to Aviano, we will continue to pursue further jump operations and other training operations with the Italian air force."
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