After two weeks of training, the two HH-3Fs of the 15th Wing, deployed to Albacete for the EAG's CJPRS course, have returned. The CJPRS, now in its third edition, involved personnel and assets from six nations (Italy, France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and Sweden) who, through joint training, sought to enhance their capability to plan and conduct “personnel recovery” missions in hostile and permissive environments, as part of a COMAO (COMbined Air Operation). For the Italian Air Force, flight personnel (pilots, onboard operators, and air rescue technicians), maintenance personnel, and support staff belonging to the 82nd C/SAR (Combat Search and Rescue) Centre of Trapani and the 83rd C/SAR Group of Cervia participated. From 13th to 27th October, they formed an autonomous cell capable of ensuring the execution of all planned flight missions. After the first week dedicated to theoretical refreshers on ’personnel recovery’ and combined flight mission planning and execution procedures, the crews were projected into a simulated international crisis scenario, within which they planned and conducted missions using actual “personnel recovery task forces,” composed of different and multinational assets, in an atmosphere of collaboration and exchange of experiences. All planning, briefing, and de-briefing phases were overseen by the EAG's organisational staff.
The missions involved all available assets: HH-3F helicopters from the 15th Wing, AB.212s from the 9th Wing of Grazzanise and EH-101s from the Navy; French AS.330 “Puma” and AS.555 “Fennec” helicopters; Spanish AS.332 “Super Puma” helicopters; German CH-53 helicopters; Spanish F-18 and “Mirage” F-1 fighter jets. Furthermore, to complete the recovery operations, teams from the Swedish, Spanish, Polish, and US “special forces”, air rescue specialists from the 15th Wing, commandos from the 17th Wing of Furbara (Rome) of the Air Force, and the “S. Marco” Battalion of the Navy were deployed. The 15th Wing ensures, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the search and rescue of flight crews and maritime vessels in distress, as well as public utility activities, such as searching for missing persons in mountains or at sea, emergency medical transport of critically ill patients (from islands, boats, etc.), and rescue of seriously traumatised individuals. Since 2001, its crews have been called upon, in addition to ensuring air rescue and support to the civilian population in cases of natural disasters and the safeguarding of human life, to contribute to national security by using the HH-3F as an SMI (Slow Mouver Interceptor) anti-terrorism aircraft. From the experience gained in various international missions and operational theatres where it has been called to operate, the 15th Wing is configured as the national benchmark for ’personnel recovery“ operations.
