South Korean military chopper crashes in a joint drill with U.S. Navy

By Park Si-soo

A South Korean military chopper involved in a joint military drill with U.S. Navy has crashed in waters off the nation’s east coast Monday night.

The Lynx combat helicopter carrying three pilots on board disappeared from radar at 8:57 p.m., eight minutes after takeoff, after sending a distress call. The exact cause of the crash has not been confirmed yet.

A search for the missing chopper by S. Korean and U.S. Navy is underway.

Update:

By Ko Dong-hwan

Parts of the military helicopter that crashed last night in waters off Korea’s eastern coast have been found, Navy officials said Tuesday.

They said wreckage from the Lynx combat helicopter ― including a door and a pilot’s helmet ― was recovered in last night’s search by the South Korean and U.S. navies.

The chopper had three pilots on board and was involved in a joint drill with the U.S. Navy when it disappeared from radar at 8:57 p.m. Monday, eight minutes after takeoff.

“The chopper sent a distress call four times while crashing,” one of the officials said Tuesday.

He said the helicopter crashed some 52 kilometers east of the city of Yangyang in Gangwon Province, which is “some distance from the Northern Limitation Line” that separates the two Koreas.

The cause of the crash has not yet been confirmed.

Citizen Airmen help rescue seaplane crash victims

CLEAR LAKE, CA, UNITED STATES

09.17.2016

Photo by Kenneth Wright 

349th Air Mobility Wing

Capt. Jared Wahleithner and 1st Lt. Chris Dempsey were ferrying passengers to shore Sept. 17, during the annual Clear Lake Seaplane Splash In, when a small amphibious aircraft crashed during an attempted landing. The pair helped rescue a badly injured passenger, while the local sheriff's department pulled the pilot to safety. (Courtesy photo by Ron Keas)

Capt. Jared Wahleithner (right) and 1st Lt. Christopher Dempsey, KC-10 Extender pilots with the 70th Air Refueling Squadron, used years of aircrew survival and first aid and buddy care training to help rescue an aircraft crash victim Sept. 17, 2016. The Citizen Airmen were taking part in the annual Clear Lake Splash In at Clear Lake, Calif., when a seaplane crashed during an attempted water landing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken Wright)

US, Japan rescue squadrons save downed pilot

Capt. Zack Martin, a 33rd Rescue Squadron pilot, was part of the team that rescued a Marine pilot after he ejected from his AV-8B Harrier Jump Jet Sept. 22, 2016, off the coast of Okinawa, Japan. The pilot ejected safely from his aircraft and was rescued successfully by the 31st and 33rd RQSs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Stephen G. Eigel)

By Staff Sgt. Benjamin Sutton, 18th Wing Public Affairs / Published September 23, 2016

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) -- Within 30 minutes of an AV-8B Harrier Jump Jet crash Sept. 22, Airmen from the 31st and 33rd Rescue Squadrons here were in the air and intent on saving the life of a pilot stranded in the Pacific Ocean.

The pilot was able to eject from the aircraft before the crash and landed in the cold waters of the Pacific, where he waited for rescue.

“We received the notification of an ejection and immediately went into action,” said Capt. Paul Fry, a 31st RQS combat rescue officer.

Nearly 30 minutes after the notification, both U.S. Air Force assets and their partner Japan Self-Defense Forces aircraft were on the scene searching for the downed pilot.

“Once we got the call, our helicopter maintenance unit did a great job getting our aircraft ready to go,” said Capt. Zachary Martin, a 33rd RQS pilot. “We can really thank our training for the quick response because as soon as we got the call everyone just fell into their training habit patterns and we went wheels up.”

Many different units from across Kadena Air Base came together to get out to the pilot, who was floating in the open ocean, 95 miles off the coast of Hedo Cape.

“As soon as we arrived on scene, we saw the survivor and began the process of putting the pararescueman into the water to rescue him,” said Staff Sgt. Marcus Taylor, a 33rd RQS special mission aviator.

Once on scene, Carroll freefell about 10 feet from the helicopter into the water and immediately swam to the pilot. While in the water he performed an initial assessment of the pilot to make sure he was OK to be pulled inside the helicopter.

“We were able to find him so quickly because our JASDF partners were on scene so quickly with eyes on him,” Carroll said. “Once I assessed he was OK, I got him to the hoist and we pulled him up.”

Once the pilot was pulled into the helicopter, he was given immediate medical attention en route to Camp Foster, Japan, where he continued to receive care.

“We train a lot for these exact types of missions so anytime we can go out and bring someone back alive, it’s a really good feeling,” Fry said.

Staff Sgt. Austen Carroll, a 31st Rescue Squadron pararescueman, was part of the team that rescued a Marine pilot after he ejected from his AV-8B Harrier Jump Jet Sept. 22, 2016, off the coast of Okinawa, Japan. Carroll freefell about 10 feet from a helicopter into the Pacific Ocean to save the downed pilot. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Scott Fremming)

Staff Sgt. Marcus Taylor, a 33rd Rescue Squadron special mission’s aviator, was part of the team that rescued a Marine pilot after he ejected from his AV-8B Harrier Jump Jet Sept. 22, 2016, off the coast of Okinawa, Japan. The pilot ejected safely from his aircraft and was rescued successfully by the 31st and 33rd RQSs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Stephen G. Eigel)

Maxwell firefighters compete in international challenge

Maxwell’s 2016 Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge team lines up for a group photo beside one of their fire trucks, Sept. 15, 2016, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. The team prepares for the competition in the same way they prepare for their job, with high intensity training. (U.S. Air Force photo/SrA Alexa Culbert)

By Senior Airman Alexa Culbert, 42nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs / Published September 23, 2016

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. --
Maxwell firefighters are preparing to compete in the 25th annual Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge being held Oct. 24 – 29, 2016, in Montgomery, Alabama.

The international challenge invites firefighters from all over the world to compete in what is known as “the hardest two minutes in sports.”

In two minutes, competitors are required to perform five strenuous tasks that mirror the duties they perform on the job. The tasks include sprinting up five flights of stairs with a water hose, hoisting hose, chopping, dragging hoses and carrying a 175-pound training dummy.

This will be the second year Maxwell’s firefighters have participated in the competition, and they look forward to beating their score from last year. In the 2015 world challenge, the team’s scores for the Relay and Relay Elimination races were 1:31:01 and 1:32:83, respectively. Maxwell firefighter Senior Airman Scott Weeks earned the scores 1:49:84 and 1:52:20 in the individual races and Jay Brown, Maxwell firefighter, with 3:49:92.

“Better is the goal,” said Brown. “I wish I knew then what I know now. But I learned a lot, met a lot of really cool people, a lot of people helped me along the way, and I really appreciated that and I just want to do better.”

Brown said the competition is a fun way for him and the other's to stay in shape and become more proficient at their job.

Last month, the team competed in Louisville, Kentucky, giving the new members their first look at what is to come at the world competition.

“It was fun, it was my first time seeing the event. It’s a long day. t takes a lot of heart and soul to go out there and do it, because when you’re done you go to a dark place and don’t feel good, it takes a lot of heart to want to go do that,” said Senior Airman Jem Beck, Maxwell firefighter.

In Louisville, the team finished the course with a time of 1:40:80 in the Relay Eliminations and Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Brown, Maxwell firefighter, competed solo and placed 39th out of 75 with a time of 2:04:66.

Team members are:Jay Brown, Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Brown, Senior Airman Jem Beck, Airman 1st Class Travis Dyer and Airman 1st Class Jonathan McKay.

What I’ve Learned: Joel Jensen

Photo By Cpl. Thomas Mudd | Joel Jensen, lieutenant, Combat Center Fire Department, has been working aboard the base for approximately six years. During that time, he has dedicated his time to being a good father and working to help the people of the Combat Center. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Thomas Mudd/Released) 

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, UNITED STATES
09.21.2016
Story by Cpl. Thomas Mudd
Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms

Lieutenant, Combat Center Fire Department

Hometown: Hesperia, Calif.

>I grew up loving to ride dirt bikes; I would do it all the time. I received my first dirt bike when I was 4. I’d say it was a big part of my life growing up.

>I got hurt a few times growing up, so I don’t ride like I used to. When I started my career as a firefighter, work took precedence so I began to volunteer as a responder at different motorcycle events to help others who enjoy riding.

>I love being with my family. I became a father shortly after I began working here and it was one of the proudest moments of my life. I spend as much time with my family as I can.

>We go camping as often as possible and I even got my son into motorcycles. We try to go out into the desert once or twice a month and get in some riding time.

>There aren’t a lot of ways to describe the feeling of being a father. It’s just a great feeling. He’s only 6 but he keeps telling me how much he wants to be a firefighter when he grows up. I’ll have to wait and see if he does.

>I’m the third generation firefighter in my family. My father and grandfather were both firefighters and I believe growing up around the vehicles and seeing those men proud of what they do made me want to become a firefighter as well.

>I was a member of the San Bernardino Fire Department before coming to the Combat Center. While I was there, we always worked very closely with the members of the Combat Center Fire Department.

>The drive from home to here is about 100 miles. It’s a little ways away but I don’t make the drive every day. I’m at work every two to three days then I get to stay home for two to three days. It all works out in the end and I enjoy working on base.

>I remember when I was offered the opportunity to join this team. I was asked to perform a physical agility test, where they make sure that you can perform as a firefighter. After that, I was offered the position to be part of this team.

>We are a family here. When you work with the same people for long enough they become like family, but the people here are especially close.

>One of the most memorable moments I’ve had working here was when I was promoted to lieutenant.

>Another time I remember was when we received the Green Cross Award. Firefighters receive this award when they respond to a car accident that require the “Jaws of Life” and have a life-or-death victim live through the accident. That was a great honor for me. It’s not an award that is given to people often, so the fact that I have received it is a great honor.