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Alaska Arctic Guardians Rescue Injured ATV Rider

  • Published
  • By David Bedard,
  • 176th Wing

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued an injured all-terrain vehicle rider Aug. 20 near Kahiltna Glacier about 100 miles northwest of Anchorage.

A member of the rider’s party used a satellite communication device to notify the Alaska State Troopers, who requested assistance from the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center.

At the request of the AKRCC, the 176th Wing launched a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter and a 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II fixed-wing aircraft with 212th Rescue Squadron pararescuemen.

The HC-130 conducted a high-altitude weather survey of the route to ensure the HH-60 could safely traverse the mountain passes to the rescue site.

The HH-60 crew located the ATV rider and landed. The pararescuemen loaded the injured rider and he was transported to Providence Alaska Medical Center.

Alaska Air National Guard Capt. Caleb Kiley, AKRCC senior mission controller, said the group was wise to have a satellite communication device.

“It’s very important to have a SATCOM device when going into the Alaska wilderness,” he said. “The party having one made for a good and timely outcome for this mission.”

For the mission, 210th RQS, 211th RQS, 212th RQS and the AKRCC received credit for one save.