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Pararescuemen from the 304th Rescue Squadron, Portland, Ore., deploy from an HH-60 Pavehawk helicopter assigned to the 305th Rescue Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on June 9, 2007, to practice mountain rescue skills used in contingencies operations. Although geographically separated, both squadrons are subordinate units of the 943rd Rescue Group located at Davis-Monthan AFB. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Ruby Zarzyczny)
A pararescueman from the 304th Rescue Squadron is hoisted from a HH-60 helicopter from the 305th Rescue Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. to a survivor on a mountain top near Hood River, Ore. during a mountain rescue training exercise June 9, 2007. Several HH-60 helicopters from D-M base visited the 304th on their way to the Guardian Angel rescue exercise at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. The PJs were able to deploy from the helicopters and practice a variety of tactics to maintain mission readiness June 9-13, 2007. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Ruby Zarzyczny)
After signaling for help, Tech. Sgt. Eric Bigelow, 305th Rescue Squadron aircrew life support technician simulates being stranded in a combat environment awaiting rescue by the 304th Rescue Squadron pararescueman who is hoisted down to the Airman from a HH-60 Pavehawk helicopter during a mountain rescue training exercise, June 9, 2007. Pararescuemen are among the most highly trained emergency trauma specialists in the U.S. military. With their medical and rescue expertise along with their deployment capabilities, PJs are able to perform life-saving missions in the worlds most remote areas.(U.S. Air Force Photo/Ruby Zarzyczny)
A pararescueman from the 304th Rescue Squadron, Portland, Ore. and Tech. Sgt. Eric Bigelow, 305th Rescue Squadron aircrew life support equipment technician are hoisted into a HH-60 Pavehawk helicopter during a mountain rescue training scenario on a mountain top near Hood River, Ore. June 9, 2007. A pararescueman are primary personnel recovery specialist with emergency medical capabilities used in humanitarian and combat environments. They can deploy by air-land-sea into any environment to rescue or recover injured and stranded people. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Ruby Zarzyczny)
A team of 304th Rescue Squadron pararescuemen redeploy to a waiting 305th Rescue Squadron HH-60 Pavehawk helicopter after recovering a stranded military member during a mountain rescue training exercise near Hood River, Ore. June 9, 2007. The PJs commitment to training and self-sacrifice to save lives reaffirms their motto “These things we do that others may live". Without the PJs and Airmen from the rescue squadrons, thousands of service members and civilians would have been unnecessarily lost in past conflicts and natural disasters. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Ruby Zarzyczny)
In the Columbia River near Portland, Ore. pararescuemen from the 304th Rescue Squadron climb a rope ladder out of the river and into a HH-60 Pavehawk helicopter from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., June 11, 2007. The PJs continuously practice these water rescue techniques to maintain their readiness for when they are called to rescue stranded military members during contingency operations or civilians here at home. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Ruby Zarzyczny)
Pararescuemen from the 304th Rescue Squadron, Portland, Ore. climb a rope ladder out of the Columbia River and into a 305th Rescue Squadron HH-60 helicopter during water rescue training June 11, 2007. The helicopter aircrew calculates the winds and the speed of the river's current to performing a low and slow maneuver approximately 10-15 feet above the river. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Ruby Zarzyczny)
While a HH-60 Pavehawk helicopter comes in low and slow over the Columbia River near Portland Ore., pararescuemen from the 304th Rescue Squadron jump into the river during a water rescue scenario June 11, 2007. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Ruby Zarzyczny)
Pararescuemen from the 304th Rescue Squadron are hoisted 25 feet in the air and out of the Columbia River near Portland, Ore. by a HH-60 Pavehawk helicopter from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. during a water rescue training exercise June 11, 2007. The PJs use these skills to rescue Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers and Marines during contingencies operations overseas, and civilians during humanitarian missions and rescues overseas and in the U.S. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Ruby Zarzyczny)