56th RQS PJs make history with deployment

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chris Stagner
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  The 56th Rescue Squadron at RAF Lakenheath made history recently when it deployed a team of pararescuemen and a survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist from the 48th Operations Support Squadron in support of contingency operations in Iraq.

While rescue squadron personnel working in Iraq is nothing new, the deployment from the 56th RQS is. It's the first time in the squadron's history this type of operation has been fulfilled. 

"It's really an exciting time for us," said Capt. Luke Bates, 56th RQS Combat Rescue Officer. "We've really worked hard to meet our operational requirements in regard to search and rescue locally, and we've trained even harder to ensure we're capable of meeting our wartime combat search and rescue operations. This deployment is the natural step for what this team is capable of accomplishing."

The team's mission at their deployed location isn't necessarily the normal affair for PJs.
"We're going to Iraq, and there is a ton of [forward operating bases] there," said the captain. "That adds a different dynamic to what we're designed for. While we might not be called upon to do missions specifically related to Air Force [combat search and rescue], we will be there to support the war-fighting commanders with our full spectrum of capabilities."

Prepping for the deployment wasn't as easy for the PJs as the captain expected.

"We had to take one of our new guys off the plane when he landed [at RAF Lakenheath], push him through training as rapidly as possible and get him ready to go," said Captain Bates. "[Then] Airman 1st Class Nathan Simonson literally got off the plane and received his deployment orders. Luckily we have some outstanding PJ instructors on this team and were able to get this 'pup' mission ready in record time."

The fast rush wasn't expected by the Airman, but he's excited about it. To him, it's the way of life he signed up for.

"This is what I signed up for right here - hack the mish," said Airman Simonson. "I spent the last two years training, and it never stops obviously, but doing the mission is better than training for the mission. No one wants us to have to do what we do, because if we're there something [went wrong]. But it's a noble thing we do, and I'm glad to do it."