A civil rescue helicopter crew called for help from the 55th Rescue Squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., when it couldn’t reach a stranded and injured teenage hiker. The airmen were preparing for a night training sortie when they got the call and responded within an hour to the rescue area, where an HH-60 Pave Hawk lowered a pararescue jumper. The PJ secured the teenage boy, who was at a medical center for treatment within three hours after the initial request for help, reports journalist SrA. Michael Hess.
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.