Beale conducts multi-faceted CSAR exercise Published June 11, 2013 By Staff Sgt. Robert M. Trujillo 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., -- Team Beale conducted a multi-faceted Combat Search and Rescue exercise here May 31 with the support of the California Air National Guard's 129th Rescue Wing. The exercise demonstrated how Beale's Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft augment CSAR operations. "Combat Search and Rescue is not something that we normally do, so we set out to validate this capability," said Maj. Court, 489th Reconnaissance Squadron chief of weapons and tactics. The exercise presented multiple scenarios consisting of a downed aircraft, escape and evasion, vehicle interdiction and a pilot rescue. The MC-12 Liberty provided tactical reconnaissance by relaying enemy positions and movements, while the RQ-4 Global Hawk provided a strategic sight picture. Training scenarios also included Team Beale personnel portraying hostile enemy combatants who engaged friendly forces. "Each part of the exercise was designed to be as realistic as possible, with different threats challenging the aircrews to think and react to an evolving situation," Court said. The rescue wing stationed out of Moffett Federal Airfield, Calif., provided an HH-60 Pave Hawk to perform pilot extraction and other CSAR duties. "It's not every day we get to have a training exercise that involves a helicopter," said Capt. Abbie, 427th RS. "It was very beneficial training and a lot of fun." As well as being a beneficial exercise, it was also very cost effective. "We used all of our own aircraft, so flying costs were minimal, and the rescue wing is based just south of us, so they didn't have to fly too far," Court said. "It was great to have them available." In addition to the CSAR exercise, base fire crews and first responders also utilized the HH-60 Pave Hawk for other ancillary training, such as medical evacuation, signaling and directing aircraft. "This exercise proved we can provide a CSAR capability, and hopefully it paved the way for future CSAR operations," Court said.