MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan – U.S. Air National Guard rescue units from Alaska, California and New York deployed about 150 Airmen with five aircraft recently to provide real-world rescue capability in support of exercise Resolute Force Pacific, or REFORPAC, 2025 in Misawa, Japan.
Exercise REFORPAC 25 is the largest Air Force contingency-response exercise ever in the Pacific. It is a first-in-a-generation series of exercises encompassing all branches of the Department of Defense, employing about 400 joint and coalition aircraft with more than 12,000 personnel at more than 50 locations across 3,000 miles.
The U.S. Pacific Air Force requested Air National Guard rescue units be in place July 10 - 29 and ready to perform real-world search and rescue should an incident occur during the exercise, said Maj. Tia Beck, director of operations for the 106th Logistics Readiness Squadron. Beck also said the Air Force is the most highly trained and capable of performing personnel recovery.
Air National Guard units contributing to the rescue mission at Misawa Air Base were from the triad of Air National Guard Rescue units: the 106th Rescue Wing of the New York Air National Guard, the 129th Rescue Wing from the California Air National Guard, and the 176th Wing from the Alaska Air National Guard, with additional assistance from the 150th Special Operations Wing, New Mexico Air National Guard.
“Working with multiple organizations and the end result being the ability for us to be able to work together to come to a common goal is significant,” said Maj. Patrick Osahor, an HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter rescue pilot assigned to the 106th Rescue Wing. “The more we can do these types of exercises and get this level of integration, the better prepared the squadron will be to execute in any environment in the future.”
Pararescuemen from Alaska integrated with New York helicopter rescue crews operating their HH-60W Jolly Green II rescue helicopters. Two HC-130J Combat King II rescue aircraft from California and New York, along with their crews, provided search and rescue and aerial refueling support.
“It's a really cool experience getting to integrate with the New York team, with the California team, and just see the level of professionalism across the board,” said Staff Sgt. Cash Cutsforth, a pararescueman with the 212th Rescue Squadron assigned to the Alaska Air National Guard.
Cutsforth said the rescue element is the 911 call for the area and would be going to pick up any pilots and crews in the event of a real-world incident.
“The standard in rescue seems to be the same anywhere you go,” Cutsforth said. “I was very excited to work with New York helicopters. It's a new type of helicopter. We had never worked on it before, so it's a great experience.”
Aircraft maintainers from California and New York also were on the scene providing routine and contingency maintenance with 24-hour support capabilities alongside multiple supporting personnel, including but not limited to flight operations, communications, intelligence and logistics.
For some, the exercise provided a new experience and a broader perspective on the Air Force.
“This being my first TDY [temporary duty], I think I've experienced a lot,” said Airman 1st Class Adam Singh, a system aviation resource manager assigned to the California Air National Guard. “I think this is a great experience, not only because I get to see real-world missions happen, but I also get to see how the Air Force as a whole functions.”
The size and scope of REFORPAC 25, as well as the complexity of real-world rescue planning and operations, were challenges the Air National Guard worked through to accomplish the mission.
“I've been very impressed with the professionalism that I've seen,” Beck said. “That we're able to actually get over here on the other side of the world and still do our mission safely and efficiently, I think that's a win.”
Exercise REFORPAC demonstrates the U.S. commitment to the region by fostering interoperability, establishing multilateral cooperative arrangements with allies and partners, advancing shared interests and promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The intent is to enhance interoperability, strengthen our militaries and demonstrate a collective commitment to maintaining regional stability.
Air National Guard rescue operates and maintains the HC-130J Combat King II search and rescue aircraft, and HH-60, “G” Pave Hawk and “W” Jolly Green II rescue helicopters. Air National Guard Rescue units are home to special warfare squadrons featuring pararescuemen and combat rescue officers who specialize in rescue and recovery operations, deploying for both domestic and overseas missions. These things we do, so that others may live.