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'We who dare'

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. John Bainter
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  The sound of gunfire rings out as simulation rounds whiz through the air and paint splatters against the side of a building.

Gravel crunches beneath the feet of a rescue team as they shout out commands and lower an injured combat casualty from a rooftop.

This setting served as the backdrop for a combat casualty training exercise on the Eglin Range Aug. 14. This exercise is part of a series required for 23rd Special Tactics Squadron Airmen to achieve their upgrade training goals.

According to Tech. Sgt Ryan Hall, a pararescueman of 23rd STS, the general focus of the training helped develop the squadron's organic personnel recovery capability while integrating a joint service environment.

According to the squadron's factsheet, the 23rd STS is a unit that trains, equips and employs combat control, pararescue and support personnel in response to Presidential/Secretary of Defense taskings. The squadron's primary task is to integrate, synchronize and/or control the elements of air and space power in the objective area.

The unit performs austere airfield control, terminal attack control, personnel rescue and recovery, assault zone assessment, battlefield trauma care, direct action and special reconnaissance.