Fight savior
|
Fight savior |
|
|---|---|
| Lineup | 2013 |
| Country |
 Germany
|
| Armed forces | armed forces |
| Armed forces |
 air force
|
| Type | Special unit |
| Strength | 25 (target) |
| Insinuation | Helicopter Squadron 64 |
| Location | Laupheim (Baden-Wuerttemberg) |
| motto | That others may live |
Combat rescuers are a special unit of the Air Force whose mission is to rescue and armed repatriation of crashed aircraft crews, other people on board and special forces under combat conditions and abroad.
Deployments take place as part of the CSAR as part of Personnel Recovery (PR). These forces are the only dedicated personnel in the Bundeswehr for the “Rescue and Return” mission.
background
Until the beginning of the 2010s, the Bundeswehr Air Force was not able to use its own resources to rescue its pilots from an emergency on the ground after being shot down, crashed or made an emergency landing, such as the US Pararescue Jumpers , PJs for short or the French Commando Parachutiste de l'air .
The stakes of NATO during the Balkans War showed the need for these skills. Within the CSAR core group of the air force established in Diepholz in 1996 , later later in Holzdorf , concepts for closing this capability gap were developed and procedures and responsibilities were defined. This capability gap was to be dealt with with the help of the multi-purpose helicopter NH90 in the CSAR variant still planned at the time, and the corresponding capability was to be ensured from 2006. However, the unavailability of aircraft types suitable for these missions and experienced combat rescuers turned out to be problematic.
Before the combat rescuers were set up, in addition to soldiers from the army, mainly object guards from the air force stationed in Mazar-e Sharif were deployed to fulfill this mission in Afghanistan . For use in the entire spectrum of personnel recovery , the Air Force finally developed the overall network for rescue and repatriation .
From October 10 to 25, 2012, the Combined Joint Personnel Recovery Course (CJPRSC) took place at the Holzdorf airfield with over 300 participants from twelve nations. The aim of the course was to ensure the ability to search, rescue and return personnel in isolated situations as a capability of European armed forces.
As of 2013, the helicopter squadron 64 (HSG64) in Laupheim began to set up an organizational element “combat rescuers” and to train them.
organization
The combat rescuers are located in the scope of a sub-unit in the 2nd season of the HSG64. Depending on the situation and mission, they are deployed in teams or troops of two to four soldiers. In addition, they can e.g. B. be reinforced by air rescue masters for first aid medical services, EOD personnel, forward air controllers or other specialized personnel.
The medium transport helicopter CH-53 is used as a means of transport until the target qualification is reached with an aircraft suitable for PR . When deployed, the combat rescuers are integrated into the respective crews as crew members, but can also be deployed on all other platforms or vehicles.
Combat rescuers represent an infantry element of the air force and, in addition to the object protection forces, are assigned to the combat support forces of the air force.
tasks
Combat rescuers are already involved in the first preparatory phases of a PR mission. You are involved in the planning and composition of the so-called extraction teams . They also advise the military leader on the basis of the information available. As part of the preparations, the combat rescuers coordinate this with the aircraft crews involved. To support the personnel to be rescued on the ground, if necessary, jump out of the aircraft with the parachute and start searching, rescuing, supplying and preparing the people concerned for repatriation. To ensure safety during a repatriation operation, combat rescuers identify the people to be admitted according to procedures defined in advance. In addition to these activities, they are also able to operate the on-board weapons of the respective aircraft. Depending on the threat situation, combat rescuers can also be reinforced by property security forces or medical personnel. After the mission has been carried out, you are ultimately involved in its follow-up and evaluation.
Combat rescuers are primarily used for PR operations in the area of responsibility of the Air Force. The repatriation of aircraft crews from enemy territory is one of the most likely deployment scenarios. They are not used in the context of evacuation operations, rescuing hostages or prisoners of war, or rescuing shipwrecked people. For operations of this kind, the army and the navy each put together and deploy their own force groups.
education
Combat rescuers represent their own training series in the air force. Due to the high demands placed on combat rescuer sergeants in terms of training and deployment, applicants are selected according to strict criteria. After the personnel requirements were initially covered by members of the air force property protection, later also experienced professional soldiers and the like. a. the Special Operations Division and Rapid Forces Division and the Training Center Special Operations recruited.
Every applicant must have completed the "Sergeant of the Air Force Security Force" course or a comparable infantry training. Associated with the application is a standard commitment period of 20 years or the status of a professional soldier . The selection process concludes with the aptitude test. Due to the main mode of transport by helicopter, the combat rescuers must meet all aero-medical requirements.
After completing the lone fighter training and survival training (land / sea) , training follows in the areas of parachute jumping (automatic and manual ), abseiling (rappelling / fast roping), shooting, close combat, technical rescue (extrication) and rescue in confined spaces and from difficult terrain . The extensive training concludes with additional advanced medical training. Overall, training to become a combat rescuer sergeant can take more than two years.
Calls
- since 2016: Resolute Support - Afghanistan
Attack on the German consulate general in Mazar-e Sharif
When the attack on the German Consulate General in Mazar-e Sharif on the evening of November 10, 2016, combat rescuers and soldiers from the Special Forces Command were the first on the scene to protect the consulate and relatives.
literature
- Jeschonnek, Friedrich K .: Rescue from the air - combat rescuers of the air force "That others may live" . In: Hardthöhen-Kurier 5/2016. Pp. 62-66.
- PR - Personnel Recovery. In: K-ISOM - Command International Special Operations Magazine 4/2015. Pp. 32-36.
Web links
- Kampfretter - specialists from the air on www.luftwaffe.de
- PR does not mean public relations on www.luftwaffe.de
- Bundeswehr: Don't shoot the paramedic faz.net
Individual evidence
- ↑ https://de.reuters.com/article/afghanistan-bundeswehr-kampfretter-idDEKCN18C1Q3
- ^ Thomas de Maizière: Conception of the Bundeswehr . Ed .: Federal Ministry of Defense. July 1, 2013 ( PDF download ).