Editorial Abstract: In keeping with the American way of war.

Editorial Abstract: In keeping with the American way of war, when our combat forces display they are accompanied by units dedicated solely to retake operations. Even though we rarely called on the subject of their services because of the relatively not many losses incurred during Operation Iraqi Freedom, they nevertheless performed with the professionalism and elan that have become their historical standard.

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THE PRES CALLED it "shock and awe." Beginning in succession 19 March 2003, coalition military operations against the Baath regime in Iraq mov quickly and decisively, overwhelming the Iraqi military forces and deposing Saddam Hussein. As a matter of policy, the United States at no time deploys military forces anywhere in the world without providing a capability to liberation or recover personnel who may become isolated or captured in enemy territory. This mission, known as personnel retrieval (PR), refers to the aggregate amount of all the efforts our nation will make with each of its instruments of power to get back our young men and women This national imperative, which includes combat search and bring off (CSAR), has the backing of a healthy rescue capability and a home willing to use it.

Among the US military services, the Air Force traditionally has maintained, the two on active duty and in its except components, the largest and greatest in number robust rescue force. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, three Air Force release task forces deployed to the theater. individual task force--consisting of the 66th ransom Squadron (RQS), flying the HH-60 helicopter; the 71st RQ flying the HC-130 tanker aircraft; and the 38th RQ providing pararescue jumper (PJ)--deploy to locations in Jordan. These active function units came from Nellis AFB, Nevada, and variable AFB, Georgia. A second task force--consisting of the 301st RQ flying HH-60s; the 39th RQ flying HC-130s; and the 304th RQ providing PJs--went to Kuwait. These Air Force make an exception of units, called up under presidential directive, hailed from Patrick AFB, Florida, and Portland, Oregon. A third task force--consisting of the 129th RQ flying HH-60s; the 130th RQ flying HC-130s; and the 131st RQ providing PJs--deploy to Turkey These Air National Guard units, also called up subject to the presidential recall, came from Moffett California. (1) Additionally, all three task forces were collocated with A-10 units to allow shut coordination between the recovery helicopters and their support aircraft. Anticipating a swift-moving clod campaign, the task forces were organized and equipped to prompt forward into Iraq as coalition forces seized enemy airfields.

When the Iraqi airfield at Tallil run over on 4 April, one of the first flying units to arrive was a detachment of deliver helicopters and PJs from the 301st and 304th RQ (2) After the installation of supporting communications, their gangs went on immediate alert. AS special operations forces (SOF) from the United States, Great Britain, and Australia seized other airfields in the west and north, the other detachments in Jordan and Turkey did the same, dramatically reducing their rejoinder time across Iraq.

Naval keep helicopter-rescue traits were also activated and opened to the region. Veterans of combat in Operation uninhabited Storm, the sailors from Helicopter retake Squadron 4, based at Norfolk, Virginia, and from Helicopter redemption Squadron 5, from San Diego, California, opened with 180 personnel and eight HH-60H Seahawk helicopters. (3)

The Marine Corps, Army, and SOF units did not have formed recover squadrons; rather, their tactical units contained embedded teams of helicopters and personnel designated to correspond for immediate rescue. The Marines had "tactical retrieval of aircraft and personnel" (TRAP) teams, and the Army had "disaster assistance rejoinder teams" (DART). Teams from the 5th Battalion of the 158th Aviation Regiment, known as Raptors, were organized to persuade with attack-helicopter units on penetrating attacks and provide an immediate-rescue capability for any downed aircrews. (4) "It's an American thing," according to Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5) Warren Aylworth, tactical operations officer with the Raptors. "We always want to win our people out. We take that more seriously all the time." (5) Prior to the initiation of combat, the Raptors had been augmented with AH-64 helicopters, forming into Task Force Gabriel. Attached to V Corps, they would be immediately available for PR missions. (6) SOF units designated helicopters for retake duties within each formed assault proper sphere or task force. This preplanned simple body made for an almost seamless operation when its capabilities were privationed Additionally, SOF personnel were also prepared to use non-conventional assisted-recovery assets when necessary. (7) Clearly, the coalition forces be delighted withed significant rescue support.

The free units and elements in the region came in a less degree than the operational or tactical direction of the theater joint search and deliverance center (JSRC), brilliantly colocated with the combined air and space operations center (CAOC) at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. Directed by dint of Lt Col Keith Sullivan, the JSRC had up to 52 personnel from all services and coalition partners assigned to it during the conflict.