Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1064315
INTERVIEW Looking back – how did the squadron benefit from CJPRSC/ APROC training? All squadron pilots, air gunners, and paramedics forming an EF team take regular part in CJPRSC, now APROC (Air Centric Personnel Recovery Course – the format and the name were changed in 2015). To prove how much experience we have gained in the editions taking place so far, let me tell you that during the first course in 2013, the organizers chose us to com- mand one mission out of 18, and in 2017, during the course at the Rivolto Air Base, we were in charge of 8 out of 18 missions. We've learned mostly the methods of planning, and most im- portantly – how to carry out CSAR missions in an international environment, featuring different planes and helicopters. We've got to learn of our own capabilities and limits, and of the capabil- ities of our allies. As the training takes place in a different coun- try each year, the pilots have also gained experience in flying in the airspace of such countries as: Germany, Belgium, Nether- lands, Italy, France, Slovakia, Slovenia or Hungary. Right now, we are fully prepared to carry out CSAR missions performing as well as our NATO partners. I think we've made our mark as a CSAR squadron among our allies – we've been sent many invitations to take part in international training programs. Another thing I'd like to stress is that we've achieved most of all this in recent five years. What's your current participation in APROC training like? Since 2014, apart from the 2nd CSAR Squadron from the 56th Air Base, we've had also crews from the 1st Attack Helicopter Squadron – equipped with Mi-24s – taking part in APROC. They represented our air base in this year's (2018) APROC at the Dutch Gilze-Rijen Air Base. The basic idea of a CSAR mission is to have your group infil- trate into the conflict area at a low altitude, at night, using night and thermal vision, without leaving the enemy time to react. But when the first variant is no longer an option, it is attack heli- copters that determine the group's potential (RESCORT). That's why we also send crews from the attack helicopter squadron to participate in APROC courses. Another reason is the fact that APROC training involves going through the most complex sce- narios that can be also used in other combat missions, such as CAS, CCA, or CFF. You can easily say that each different combat mission is some part of a CSAR mission. That's why the expe- rience gained through each such mission is invaluable to every helicopter pilot. Moreover, a "safe" infiltration into enemy structures depends much on the radiolocation protection provided by an AWACS plane, where the operators is able to warn our group of any threat and change the course or indicate targets to be destroyed on the