The 38th Rescue Squadron’s Blue Team traveled to Hawaii to conduct jungle warfare training, March 26 – April 10.
Moody Air Force Base’s pararescuemen are special warfare operators charged with the responsibility of rescuing personnel all around the world. As such, it’s vital they familiarize themselves with all types of environments.
Blue Team learned how the jungle can be used to track personnel and improve their rescue capabilities.
“The jungle is a very unforgiving environment,” said Lt. Col. Michael Vins, 38th RQS commander. “There are areas in the jungle where you can only travel 100 meters in an entire day. We need to be ready for that kind of environment by training there, understanding how to survive there, using different equipment … everything is so different, so we need to get used to that kind of environment to be effective in (Indo-Pacific Command).”
Blue Team put their techniques, procedures and tactics (TTP) to test in a new environment. They performed a series training scenarios that included team vs team tracking and antitracking exercises.
“Over the last 20 years, we’ve gotten really good at desert warfare with the war in Afghanistan and Iraq,” said Staff Sgt. Evan Rogowski, 38th RQS Blue Team pararescueman. “With that kind of phasing away, and the new area of responsibility quickly becoming the INDOPACOM region, we’re really having to take a step back from some of the older TTPs that seemed to work well in the desert and figure out how to adapt to this environment, which is way more difficult to operate in.”
After arriving in the jungle, the team set-up an outpost for operations. They survived for five days and four more nights with nothing but the knowledge and ruckus they had as special warfare operators in Air Force. Rogowski stated that weather was the greatest challenge they faced.
“It’s pretty unpredictable out here in the jungle,” Rogowski said. “It can be raining in the morning and then completely sunny in the afternoon, and back to rain. Outside of carrying the proper equipment, there’s not much we can do to control that.”
Their ability to adapt in a hostile environment was tested by this unique experience. To avoid the dangers associated with sleeping on the floor, the team slept in enclosed hammocks.
It was difficult to carry out the mission because of encounters with spiders, centipedes, steep inclines, and thick foliage. Despite these challenges, the team was still able to successfully track their targets in the jungle. They practiced fighting potential dangers from booby traps and enemies by using tactical formations and hand signals.
“As highly trained special warfare operators, we’re always thinking about modern-day warfare and high-tech weapon systems, but something so primitive like grenades that roll out of bamboo if you kick the wrong stick over is enough to wipe us all out,” said Staff Sgt. Evan Orth, 38th RQS Blue Team pararescueman. “Getting this training makes us more aware of threats we would have never expected in this environment, which could be the difference in saving not only our lives but the life of the person we’re trying to locate on the ground.”
Blue Team learned most through action, but instructors at the Tactical Tracking Operations School also offered a range of tips in a classroom setting.
“They’ll sleep in the field for four nights to give them an opportunity to live in the environment, assess their gear, work out the little kinks or whatnot and make sure their sleeping systems are good,” said Pete Kerr, TTOS president and instructor. “The more time you spend out in the field, you start to hone those senses.”
Kerr stressed the importance to pay attention to details. To find a target, you must be able notice subtle disturbances in the terrain, regardless of whether you are tracking an enemy or a missing ally like a pilot who was shot down.
“What that’s doing is programming the subconscious mind to pick up on these indicators,” Kerr said.
TTOS provided detailed hands-on training enabling the special warfare operators to determine a person’s direction of travel and intent.
“That footprint is going to explain a story to you,” Rogowski said. “Where that person went, what they did, how fast they were moving, where they’re going to, are they paranoid? And I think that’s kind of hard to put into words unless you’ve actually been there.”
The team put their skills to the test during a final two-day and one-night exercise. Blue Team tracked a downed pilot as they travelled through the terrain, undetected by potential danger. Once they had retrieved the individual, the team proceeded to an extraction point.
After a long, sleepless 24 hour period and 6km of difficult terrain, the team was able to complete their mission.
Blue Team was able to learn the necessary skills to optimize their TTPs in the jungle environment. They are now able to operate effectively throughout the Indo-Pacific.
“The culmination of this exercise validates the effectiveness the rescue teams will have in a contested jungle environment,” Rogowski said. “The lessons and skills learned here will further expand the way we operate in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility. We’ll take these lessons and shape our TTPs for the future of special operations, personnel recovery, and combat search and rescue.”
