Live-fire from Apache attack helicopters and A-10 Warthogs rips across the southern Arizona desert, as Operation Angel Thunder mobilizes more than 1,200 U.S. troops and observers from 17 foreign countries for a massive two-week simulation.

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For the U.S. Air Force this is all about search, rescue and recovery…and the ability to go in and save, or extract, anyone in any place, at any time. Known as the ‘Guardian Angel Weapons System’, the Pararescue…or PJ’s as they are known in the service….are the men and women tasked with this important ability and one that is used not only for military applications, but the general population as well. Whether it be troops pinned down and injured, or reaction to a massive earthquake, the Air Force and the PJ’s are ready to go at any time…and do whatever it takes to get the job done.

We get a first-hand look at this impressive operation while flying out of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. Our day begins early as we get a quick rundown of the Command Center, before jumping on board a Pave Hawk Helicopter to see operations up close and first-hand in the field. Our crew…Pilots Paul Anderson and Vic Pereira…Gunner Mike Senigo and Flight Engineer Sean Loose…are accommodating and ready for the task.

We are strapped in, with feet hanging safely out of the helo in order to get the best possible view and video of the latest task facing the crew. In this scenario, 10 people are pinned down and injured and the PJ’s need to land and get them out. In real life, the whole operation is expected to be completed in just one hour…and that’s from the time of the emergency call, to return with the victims. The pilots tell me they have seen this same time of real mission while deployed to Afghanistan and in Iraq. We have also seen this type of work around the globe and even here at home with mountain rescues on Shasta, or Hood.

For about 45 minutes we race just one hundred feet above the organ pipe Cactus that spear out of the arid land and the splattering of green found in the spring here in the southwest. The jagged mountains of the Sonoran Desert form stunning valley’s and remote vistas unseen by most. At speeds of 120 MPH, the flying at times has us at impressive angles and diving in and out of canyons while onboard the HH-60 Pave Hawk, headed out to see the operation. The pilots pull along side Apache’s as A-10’s dive above and below, both firing into desert targets meant to simulate tanks at the Barry M. Goldwater range.

We land on top of a mesa and get the view as the PJ’s drop in to secure the area and recover those injured. All around they are provided cover by the warplanes and attack helicopters….watching the whole process is more than impressive. We have seen our men and women in the service in action before, under many different circumstances and in many different places; most recently in Haiti. Nice to see this side of things as they prepare to help any and all and do it as real as possible.

By afternoon I am told this is the worlds largest search and rescue exercise and even a General has decided to take part in one of the scenarios as a victim. The area’s of response spread all across southern Arizona and into New Mexico and while some foreign countries are taking part, other allies come to observe impressiveness in action. This type of cooperation is imperative and what struck me is that the ideas came from the lower levels and bubbled up. Nice to know the brass in charge signed-on and even jumps-in with both boots.