Alaska Air Guard members save 167 lives in 2008
1/7/2009 - CAMP DENALI, Alaska (AFNS) -- Alaska National Guard members saved 167 lives here in Alaska and around the world in 2008.
Officials of the 11th Rescue Coordination Center, the sole Alaska representative responsible for all aeronautical search and rescue cases in Alaska, released their end of year statistics Dec. 31.
The Alaska National Guard was credited with 79 saves and 10 assists in Alaska, in addition to 72 saves during a six-month deployment in Afghanistan, and 16 on the Gulf Coast while administering hurricane support to Texas and Louisiana.
A "save" is awarded each time guardsmen rescue a person who likely would not have survived otherwise.
"Members from the Alaska National Guard were called on for their skills in Afghanistan, the Gulf Coast and here in Alaska because they are recognized for the professionalism and expertise in search and rescue," said Maj. Gen.
Craig E. Campbell, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard.
Alaska National Guard members support search and rescue year round in Alaska. September is the busiest month for search and rescue missions in the state. The Alaska Guard 20 saves during this month in 2008, which was nearly three times the number that guardsmen were awarded in September 2007.
"We were literally busy almost every day with something going on," said Maj.
Guy Hayes, the state public affairs officer.
In addition to performing day-to-day support in Alaska, guardsmen from the 210th, 211th and 212th rescue squadrons of the 176th Wing at Kulis Air National Guard Base deployed to multiple locations in 2008.
In January, guardsmen deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, to support combat search and rescue missions in the war on terrorism.
In early September, Guard members were again deployed under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a program that allows guard units to mobilize upon request to render assistance to other states.
Supporting search and rescue efforts in Louisiana and Texas, Guardsmen were awarded 16 saves during hurricanes Gustav, Hannah and Ike.
Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link)
View the comments/letters page
|
|
|
|
Printable story
E-mail story
Advanced Search
