Recovery Team Leader
In the role of Recovery Team Leader, I lead and coordinate the recovery team’s operations. This includes collaborating with Combat Search and Rescue and other agencies, assigning responsibilities to team members, and ensuring their understanding of their roles. I work with all involved units to maintain an up-to-date and accurate Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Additionally, I maintain a current recovery team alert roster and regularly test equipment for serviceability, arranging repairs when necessary. Risk assessment and mitigation are essential aspects of my role, and I ensure the team’s readiness and ability to deploy within one hour of notification.
Protection and Security NCO
As the Protection and Security NCO, I evaluate and train team members on various aspects such as warrior tasks, weapons, communications, and night vision goggles. I monitor the condition and readiness of all assigned equipment and maintain a weapons roster for the team. Standing on alert status, I respond to deployment alerts immediately. I also identify hazards, including unexploded ordnance (UXO), and control access to the area.
Convoy Commander
In the position of Convoy Commander, I maintain situational awareness of the area of responsibility and available routes. Monitoring the status of all recovery team vehicles and vehicle-mounted equipment is a critical aspect of my role. I ensure fuel levels are in compliance with regulations and report any equipment or vehicle faults to the recovery team leader for necessary repairs. Additionally, I maintain a driver and bumper number roster.
Rigging Specialist
As a Rigging Specialist for the downed aircraft recovery team, I am responsible for maintaining the aircraft recovery kit according to technical manuals. I train and qualify the rigging team on various sling procedures for different aircraft types. Rehearsing rigging procedures for different aircraft and loads, including personnel, is part of my responsibilities. I am also responsible for the storage and issuance of individual equipment and coordinate with CH-47 crew for communications and operations. Maintaining and ensuring the serviceability of cargo slings and nets is crucial, while prioritizing risk mitigation and safety.
Communications Specialist
In my role as the Communications Specialist for the Recovery Team, I manage on-site communications to the headquarters. I maintain the team’s Land Mobile Radios, batteries, and associated equipment. Ensuring the storage and distribution of current COMSEC (Communications Security) key material is part of my duties. I assist team members with aircraft communications and maintain communications equipment in accordance with technical manuals. Testing all equipment for interoperability and propagation, assigning call signs, and handling the destruction of COMSEC equipment on unrecoverable aircraft are also part of my responsibilities. I document communications requirements in the team’s SOP.
Combat Medic
As the Combat Medic for the Recovery Team, I stand on alert on a rotating basis and am responsible for the care of team members and recovered personnel. I anticipate the scope and scale of medical assistance requirements and maintain the necessary medical equipment and supplies. Identifying and mitigating exposure to hazardous materials is a critical aspect of my role. I respond to deployment orders within one hour, stabilize and prepare injured members for transport, and administer first aid.
Driver
In the position of Driver for the Recovery Team, I maintain assigned vehicles and their systems in accordance with operators’ manuals. Evaluating available vehicles for load capacity and operating all vehicle systems are part of my responsibilities. I keep both paper and digital maps of the assigned Area of Responsibility (AOR) and perform operator-level maintenance on two M88A2 recovery vehicles and one AT422 22-ton crane. Additionally, I am responsible for the maintenance and accountability of one Heavy Equipment Transport (HET) system, as well as all assigned MTOE equipment and Basic Issue Items (BII) valued at over $500,000.