Safety device saves 2 Icemen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Shawn Nickel
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  After being delivered into the Alaskan wilderness by a float plane and hiking miles further into the mountains, two Icemen's dream photography trip turned into a nightmare.

Slipping on slick rocks, both Staff Sgt. Joshua Black and Airman 1st Class Scott Larson, 354th Operations Support Squadron air traffic controllers, received leg injuries; Larson's so severe he could not walk. Without the aid of a personal locator beacon, these Airmen could have perished in the harsh backwoods.

A PLB is a device activated by the user which sets off a signal that is located by GPS. It provides a pinpoint location of the user anywhere in the world. Devices are available for checkout from the 354th Fighter Wing safety office free of charge.

"Without this device, no one would have known exactly where we were," said Black, who has extensive arctic survival training. "This state is too big to take any chances."

After Black's PLB was activated, a dispatch center alerted the 354th FW command post of his exact location. Within minutes, the 210th Rescue Squadron flew into action.

"We were able to use the GPS coordinates to fly directly to the Airmen's location with pinpoint accuracy," said Maj. Jeffrey Meinel, 210th RS commander. "This device turned what could have been an extensive search into a quick rescue. These Airmen did everything right calling for help."

The major dropped 210th RS pararescuemen into the injured Airmen's location and hoisted them to safety.

Although the PLB is effective, Staff Sgt. Devon Ellis, 354th FW ground safety technician, said the first and most important step is checking them out.

"These units are easy to use and are free," he said. "We have 13 ready to use. Even if it is a simple drive to Anchorage, we encourage Airmen to make good use of this equipment. The simplest trip in Alaska can become a wild adventure."

For more information about checking out a PLB, contact Ellis at 377-4260.