Training in the Titan’s Lair

Pararescuemen and combat rescue officers from Air Force Reserve Command’s 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick AFB, Fla., joined with active duty rescue personnel in a challenging, two-week training course designed to hone their high-altitude, high-angle, and confined-space rescue techniques. An unused, 300-foot-tall Titan rocket assembly building at Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., served as the training venue. The massive facility allowed them to practice climbing high or rappelling far down to rescue mock survivors and victims by utilizing their ropes and riggings. “This course and our knowledge of ropes give us the credibility to be able to come in and do the rescue in a timely, safe fashion,” said Capt. James Sluder, a combat rescue officer with the wing. “Keeping everything as simple as possible is our goal here,” noted TSgt. Adrian Durham, 920th RQW pararescueman. (Cape Canaveral report by SSgt. Leslie Kraushaar)