SAREX at RHV, December 2016

By 1st Lt Karin Hollerbach, photos by 2d Lt Alexei Roudnev


Despite the wet weather canceling half the training exercises, last weekend’s SAREX held at RHV airport in San Jose was another great success in enhancing  California Wing’s SAR and Disaster Relief readiness.

Capt Dave Nicholson (Mission Pilot, MP)  and Maj Elsie Lam (Mission Safety Officer, MSO)

The primary goal of the exercise was to train and/or re-qualify Ground Team (GT) and Urban Direction Finder (UDF) team members as well as base staff and aircrew members.

Lt Roberts and Maj Zoe Morozko inspecting the CAP vehicle with cadet Lee. 

Aircraft and aircrews were used in a supporting role including training with the newly acquired airborne repeater systems as well direct support to ground/UDF teams.

Close to 50 people participated in the SAREX.

IC-T Maj DeFord

Led by IC-Trainee (IC-T), Maj Steven DeFord, Squadron 188 members participating included:

• Maj Steven DeFord
• Maj Maggie Wang
• Maj Mark Fridell
• Maj Jeff Ironfield
• Capt Jordan Hayes
• Capt Kathy Brown
• Capt Don Eichelberger
• 1st Lt Tim Roberts
• 2d Lt Terry Baldwin
• 2d Lt Alexei Roudnev
• 2d Lt Scott Booth

Cadet Lee working on map-reading skills.

Maj John MacKenzie (Air Ops Branch Director, AOBD), Maj Lam (MSO) and Capt Chris Welch (Communications
Unit leader, CUL)

Logistics Section Chief (LSC)
Capt Hayes

Operations Section Chief (OSC) Maj Steve Renwick

UDF Team: 2d Lt Frank Geelhaar, Maj Morozko, Lt Roberts, and Lt Roudnev, with cadet Lee. 

Maj Mark Fridell

Lts Roberts and Geelhaar, with cadet Lee and Maj Morozko, have found the practice beacon.