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Nellis AFB to support Hurricane Irma rescue operations

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Heidi West
  • 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNS) --  In mid-afternoon Sept. 8, 2017, the 66th Rescue Squadron and 823rd Maintenance Squadron assigned to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, received a call from U.S. Northern Command to ready teams to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency search and rescue efforts in the Florida Keys following the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

Nellis AFB personnel loaded a C-5M Super Galaxy cargo aircraft assigned to the 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis AFB, California, with three HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, two personnel recovery task forces, 54 support personnel and approximately 60 short tons of supplies and departed the base Sept. 11.

“One life is worth saving,” said Staff Sgt. Nicholas Borresen, 23rd Maintenance Group quality assurance inspector. “If we have the funds available, the people available to do it, why not?”

Borresen is familiar with the preparation needed to perform a rescue mission. He was also a crew member for Operation Tomodachi, a search and rescue mission to help the victims of the tsunami that struck Japan in 2013. He is confident Nellis AFB will be just as effective in the Florida Keys.

“Everybody we have going right now is the best of the best,” said Borresen, who is responsible for inspecting the maintenance on the aircraft. “We should not have a problem having these aircraft perform for us. We provide safe aircraft for operators who can, in turn, go out and save lives.”

As it takes a village to raise a child, it takes several units to get the aircraft in the task force on their way to Florida. Training was put to the test as the 823rd MXS fought forces out of their control – as the clock ticked, nature roared from above.

Dodging a Las Vegas lightning storm, the unit pulled helicopters into the hangar, prepped and restaged them on the flight line before loading them onto the C-5 Galaxy cargo aircraft, said Senior Airman Makayla Best, 823rd MXS assistant dedicated crew chief.

While the 823rd MXS prepared the aircraft, Senior Airman Kayleigh Jones, Detachment 1, 563rd Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment technician, prepared equipment for the four-man HH-60 aircrews, to include pilots and special missions aviators, who would be performing day and night rescue missions.

For Jones, this was more than just an Air Force mission.

“I have a lot of friends down in Florida, a lot of family down in Florida still, so I’m glad to be part of this team,” she said. “‘These things we do so that others may live.’”

Finally, recovery teams prepared to work with local authorities and other military branches to maximize rescue efforts.

“Once we get wheels on the ground, it’s going to be our priority to coordinate with those guys as they will be our eyes and ears on the ground,” said Capt. Keoki Kimzin, 55th Rescue Squadron combat rescue pilot at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, and leading one of the four-man teams assisting with civilian evacuations and possible medical treatment. “They will allow us to integrate with them to do our job more efficiently as they are the experts in the area.”

In less than 18 hours of the call, the C-5 was packed and ready to take flight.

“We always say, ‘Practice like you play,’” said Best. “It’s rough because it’s somebody’s worst day when they need us, but it’s what we’re here for – it’s what we live for.”

This is the second call Nellis AFB has received to support USNORTHCOM’s mission to assist lead federal relief agencies in helping those affected by recent hurricanes, in an effort to minimize suffering while continuing its mission of defending the homeland.

Thirty-one Nellis AFB members assigned to the 99th Air Base Wing, 58th Rescue Squadron and the 23rd Wing were requested to assist with Hurricane Harvey response efforts in Texas. These members were tasked with providing humanitarian relief as well as command and control to military forces assisting FEMA, state and local authorities with the relief efforts. Nellis AFB stands ready to provide additional support, should it be requested.

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