THE FRIDAY FOTO (June 21, 2024)

MEANWHILE, IN COOLER CLIMES

(Alaska National Guard photo by Alejandro Peña) Click on the photos to enlarge the images.

Alaska Air National Guardsmen in a rigid hull inflatable boat conduct a drop zone site survey prior to water rescue training in Prince William Sound near Whittier, Alaska on  May 14, 2024.

With so much of the United States sweltering under a heat dome this weekend, we took it upon ourselves to feature a cooler scene for The Friday Foto today.

These Airmen of the 212th Rescue Squadron (RQS), are trained, equipped and prepared to conduct full-spectrum personnel recovery missions — including both conventional and unconventional rescue operations. The elite pararescuemen (PJs), combat rescue officers (CROs) and Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) specialists of the 212th, along with the 210th and 211th RQSs, make up the 176th Wing Rescue Triad and are among the busiest combat search and rescue units in the world.

The 176th Wing is based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, with an additional detachment at Eielson Air Force Base.

For the record, the photo below shows what kind of rescue ops we’re talking about: Hoisted by helicopter out of the water. Their motto is: “So Others May Live.”

(Alaska National Guard photo by Alejandro Peña)