Air Force photograph by Senior Airmen Ashley N. SteffenA U.S. Air Force pararescueman from the 68th Rescue Squadron climbs the face of a cliff during top-rope training in the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 28, 2017. The 68th RQS provides pararescuemen and combat rescue officers 5 and 7-level upgrade training in land warfare and personnel recovery.
CORONADO NATIONAL FOREST, Ariz.–The 68th Rescue Squadron held a mountain rescue training course in the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, Ariz., late last month.
The training course covered multiple rescue techniques including low and high angle rescues, rock climbing, and rappelling.
The 68th RQS also known as the formal Guardian Angel training unit, standardized upgrade training for all Guardian Angel pararescuemen. After the three month course the pararescuemen go back to their units as competent team members.
Air Force photograph by Senior Airmen Ashley N. SteffenA U.S. Air Force pararescueman from the 68th Rescue Squadron climbs the face of a cliff during training in the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 28, 2017. The course teaches the most efficient and safest ways to successfully perform mountain rescues, to include high and low angle rescues, climbing and belaying.
“It takes a lot of weight off of the gaining units having to train everybody,” said Staff Sgt. Derek, 68th RQS instructor. “The standardized course creates a good baseline for all new pararescuemen.”
Pararescuemen hold many skills and techniques required for rescue missions downrange and stateside. Their training is directly applicable to anything they could be called out for, whether it’s in the mountains of Afghanistan or local rescues.
“Pararescuemen need to be able to get to anybody, anyplace, anytime—victims could end up in a mountain environment,” said Senior Airman Alex, 68th RQS pararescueman. “We have to be prepared for any terrain.”
Air Force photograph by Senior Airmen Ashley N. SteffenA U.S. Air Force pararescueman from the 68th Rescue Squadron climbs the face of a cliff during training in the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 28, 2017.
Air Force photograph by Senior Airmen Ashley N. SteffenA U.S. Air Force pararescueman from the 68th Rescue Squadron looks for his next hold during lead-climb training in the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 28, 2017. The 68th RQS is the formal Guardian Angel training unit and is responsible for upgrade training of pararescuemen to produce competent team members for units across the Air Force.
Air Force photograph by Senior Airmen Ashley N. SteffenA U.S. Air Force pararescueman from the 68th Rescue Squadron clips his training rope for lead-climbing into a carabiner during training in the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 28, 2017.
Air Force photograph by Senior Airmen Ashley N. SteffenA U.S. Air Force pararescueman from the 68th Rescue Squadron climbs the face of a cliff during top-rope training in the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 28, 2017.
Air Force photograph by Senior Airmen Ashley N. SteffenA U.S. Air Force pararescueman and a simulated victim rappel down a cliff during a rescue training scenario in the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 28, 2017.
Air Force photograph by Senior Airmen Ashley N. SteffenA U.S. Air Force pararescueman from the 68th Rescue Squadron belays down a cliff face during top-rope training in the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 28, 2017.
Air Force photograph by Senior Airmen Ashley N. SteffenA U.S. Air Force pararescueman from the 68th Rescue Squadron belays a climber during top-rope training in the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 28, 2017.
Air Force photograph by Senior Airmen Ashley N. SteffenU.S. Air Force pararescuemen from the 68th Rescue Squadron rig a rescue litter in the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 26, 2017.
Air Force photograph by Senior Airmen Ashley N. SteffenU.S. Air Force pararescuemen hoist a rescue litter containing an instructor during a training exercise in the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 26, 2017.
Air Force photograph by Senior Airmen Ashley N. SteffenA U.S. Air Force pararescueman from the 68th Rescue Squadron communicates between the belaying pararescueman and the belay crew during a training exercise in the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 26, 2017.
Air Force photograph by Senior Airmen Ashley N. SteffenA U.S. Air Force pararescueman from the 68th Rescue Squadron communicates between the belaying pararescueman and the belay crew during a training exercise in the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 26, 2017.
Air Force photograph by Senior Airmen Ashley N. SteffenA U.S. Air Force pararescueman from the 68th Rescue Squadron signals a lower to his belay partner during top-rope training in the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 28, 2017.
Air Force photograph by Senior Airmen Ashley N. SteffenA U.S. Air Force pararescueman from the 68th Rescue Squadron belays down a cliff during a training exercise in the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 26, 2017.
Air Force photograph by Senior Airmen Ashley N. SteffenU.S. Air Force pararescuemen build a lower to rappel a rescuer during a training exercise in the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 26, 2017.
Air Force photograph by Senior Airmen Ashley N. SteffenU.S. Air Force pararescuemen from the 68th Rescue Squadron rig a rescue litter in the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 26, 2017.
Air Force photograph by Senior Airmen Ashley N. SteffenU.S. Air Force pararescuemen from the 68th Rescue Squadron watch a demonstration during rescue training in the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 26, 2017.
Air Force photograph by Senior Airmen Ashley N. SteffenKurt Winkler, guide with American Mountain Guides Association, demonstrates how to tie a figure 8 follow-through knot during training in the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 26, 2017.
Air Force photograph by Senior Airmen Ashley N. SteffenA U.S. Air Force pararescueman from the 68th Rescue Squadron builds a belaying anchor in the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 26, 2017.
