A standard early morning flight April 26 for the Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139 Cougars turned into a great learning experience in a Search and Rescue (SAR) exercise.

As the crew of four walked out to their EA-6B Prowler for a standard preflight inspection, the squadron’s Safety Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Nick Vande Griend, informed the crew they would be participating in a SAR exercise.

Lt. Nick George, Lt. Nathan Clayville, Lt.j.g. Scott Dearden and Lt.j.g Micah Kolcun then entered a van to be transited to the Whidbey Island SAR helicopter, a MH-60S Knighthawk.

As the Prowler crew approached the SAR hangar, they were greeted by Chief Hospital Corpsman Richard Hubbard and Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Patrick Dexter, the Safety and Training instructors from the base Aviation Survival Training Center (ASTC). The crew was briefed on safety and egress from MH-60S and then walked to the helicopter for takeoff.

As the Knighthawk began to approach the foothills of the Cascade Mountains and the rugged terrain became apparent, the Prowler crew realized how difficult such terrain would be in a survival situation.

“I was surprised by how thick the trees and brush were and just how isolated some of the areas are we routinely fly over,” said George, the pilot of the squadron crew.

After the helicopter reached the final destination, the Prowler crew and SAR coordinators were dropped off. The SAR crew then hoisted Clayville and George to another location to make the scenario more realistic. Following a quick debrief and watching the SAR helicopter disappear beyond the horizon, the crews inventoried their gear and took out their AN/PRQ-7 Combat Survivor/Evader Locator (CSEL) radios.

The radios enabled the crews to receive a GPS fix along with voice communications to rendezvous with each other. Once assembled, the group used the opportunity to cover survival training to include water procurement, building a shelter, first aid and signaling.

Thankfully the crew was able to experience a SAR situation in a controlled environment and the exercise ended with the SAR helicopter picking up the crew for extraction to NAS Whidbey Island.

“I learned a lot today and am very confident that the Whidbey SAR team is among the best out there,” said Dearden.