U.S. Air Force 48th RQS Demonstrate ACE Capabilities

March 6, 2024 Hannah Sanchez 48th Rescue Squadron, US Air Force, US Air Force Special Operations 0
U.S. Airmen assigned to the 48th Rescue Squadron re-task to a combat search and rescue mission during Exercise Agile Angel at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., Feb. 20, 2024. The main objectives of Exercise Agile Angel were to execute at speed with a small number of personnel and with minimal active communications, which are all critical requirements to successfully execute ACE operations in a contested environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jasmyne Bridgers-Matos)
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. —  The 355th Wing demonstrated the ability to employ special warfare teams and combat rescue aircraft to execute agile combat employment operations in support of unmanned aircraft systems.During Exercise Agile Angel, a team of special warfare Airmen assigned to the 48th Rescue Squadron, conducted a low-visibility ground infiltration to rapidly establish and control an austere landing zone and a forward arming and refueling point while mitigating the risk of enemy detection.

The exercise leveraged HC-130J Combat King II aircraft and FARP capabilities originally developed for the combat rescue mission, to airlift munitions, fuel, and maintenance support for an MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle, assigned to the 27th Special Operations Wing. The team executed an integrated combat turn for the MQ-9 and were then re-tasked to launch in support of a combat search and rescue mission.

The main objectives of Exercise Agile Angel were to execute at speed with a small number of personnel and with minimal active communications, which are all critical requirements to successfully execute ACE operations in a contested environment.  Additionally, the SWT employed a locally developed resilient mesh-network with over-the-horizon communications capabilities to command and control the entire operation.

Furthermore, the exercise demonstrated that a small element of special warfare, combat rescue, fuels, ammunition, and maintenance Airmen with multi-capable skills, led by an O-3 and an E-7 operating under mission type orders, can be a highly agile maneuver force capable of delivering operational level effects.

“War is changing,” said U.S. Air Force Captain Aaron Smith, 48th Rescue Squadron combat rescue officer. “We have new emerging threats. The tactics of the past 20 years will not work. We need to integrate and expand our capabilities.”

The 48th RQS recently established their first SWT, combining pararescue, tactical air control party, survival, evasion, resistance, and escape, and special warfare mission support Airmen to execute a wide range of Air Force missions.  These highly capable teams are being designed to operate under the control of future combat Wings to execute their legacy joint fires integration, global access, and personnel recovery missions, while also delivering ACE, tactical C2, sensing, and multi-domain effects for the Air Component commander.

“These are truly exciting times for our Airmen,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Jose Cabrera, 563rd Rescue Group commander. “Their resourcefulness and willingness to step outside of traditional roles is exactly what the Air Force needs for the future fight.”

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  • By 355th Wing Public Affairs
  • 355th Wing Public Affairs
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Daniel Middaugh, left, 355th Logistics Readiness Squadron forward area refueling point operator, and Master Sgt. Byron Simon, 79th Rescue Squadron loadmaster, secure FARP equipment on an HC-130J Combat King II aircraft during Exercise Agile Angel at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., Feb. 20, 2024. Middaugh and Simon worked together to expedite the operational tempo, which complicates or negates adversary response. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Abbey Rieves)
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Byron Simon, 79th Rescue Squadron loadmaster, evaluates cargo logistics during Exercise Agile Angel at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., Feb. 20, 2024. Simon’s goal was to continue military readiness in the simulated adverse conditions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Abbey Rieves)
A U.S. Airman assigned to the 48th Rescue Squadron prepares to unload cargo during Exercise Agile Angel at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., Feb. 20, 2024. The 48th RQS demonstrated their comprehensive Airman fitness when they rapidly dispersed, defended the mock contingency location and demonstrated how they generated combat power. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Abbey Rieves)
U.S. Airmen assigned to the 355th Wing sync plans during Exercise Agile Angel at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., Feb. 20, 2024. These Airmen teamed up with the 48th Rescue Squadron to combined Airmen from combat rescue officer, pararescueman, survival, evasion, resistance and escape and tactical air control party career fields to operate outside of their traditional mission to set up a landing zone, a forward area refueling point, execute and integrated combat turn and re-role personnel recovery operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Abbey Rieves)
U.S. Airmen assigned to the 48th Rescue Squadron push an aircraft generator and flood lights during Exercise Agile Angel at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., Feb. 20, 2024. Training outside of their particular specialties was deliberately designed to outpace adversary action in the future fight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Abbey Rieves)
A U.S. Airman assigned to the 48th Rescue Squadron prepares for the arrival of an MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle during Exercise Agile Angel at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., Feb. 20, 2024. The 48th RQS was trained to execute an integrated combat turn demonstrating the ability to establish and operate in-extremis and austere contingency locations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Abbey Rieves)
A U.S. Airman assigned to the 48th Rescue Squadron unloads cargo during Exercise Agile Angel at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., Feb. 20, 2024. The Airman was trained in expeditionary skills and capable of accomplishing tasks outside of the Airman’s core Air Force specialty. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Abbey Rieves)
U.S. Airmen assigned to the 48th Rescue Squadron unload cargo during Exercise Agile Angel at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., Feb. 20, 2024. The Airmen were trained in pararescue and survival, evasion, resistance and escape and tactical air control party but operated in roles usually performed by U.S. Air Force loadmasters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Abbey Rieves)

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