Page 16 - Aerotech News and Review – September 12, 2025

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42nd Electronic Combat Squadron returns from deployment
Air Force photographs by Airman Jaden Kidd
A U.S. Air Force 42nd Electronic Combat Squadron member waves at an EC-130H Compass Call aircraft returning from a contingency deployment at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Aug. 23, 2025. The 42nd ECS directs EC-130H aircrew initial academic and flying qualification and requalification training for 20 different aircrew specialties with more than 200 aircrew students trained annually.
Master Sergeant Joshua Geissler, 42nd Electronic Combat Squadron production supervisor, embraces his son after returning from deployment at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Aug. 23, 2025. The 42nd ECS provides the 55th Electronic Combat Group with combat ready EC-130H Compass Call trained aircrews.
Airmen assigned to the 42nd Electronic Combat Squadron are greeted by their families after returning from a contingency deployment at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Aug. 23, 2025.
563rd Rescue Group optimizes agile combat employment during exercise Resolute Force Pacific
by 2nd Lt. Grace Brandt
Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
U.S. Airmen with the 563rd Rescue Group had the unique opportunity to execute dispersed operations and generate airpower across a long-range maritime en- vironment during exercise Reso- lute Force Pacific, the Air Force’s largest contingency response exercise in the Pacific, in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands.
Conducted through the month of July, REFORPAC was part of the first-in-a-generation Depart- ment-Level Exercise series, a new way the Air Force is exercising to conduct large operations in contested, dynamic environ- ments. The aim was to improve interoperability and multilateral cooperation, leading to a stronger, more capable, deterrent force.
During the exercise, the 563rd RQG operated in austere loca- tions, leveraging relationships with local partners to utilize a civilian runway for its HH-60W Jolly Green Giant II helicopters and HC-130J Combat King II aircraft. The squadron provided a real-world persistent alert pos- ture for U.S. military and Allied aircraft that were exercising in the Northern Marianas area as well as trained as a unit in long- range maritime environments.
The dispersed environment forced the 563rd RQG’s aircrews to confront challenges such as how to stay fueled while pro- viding fuel support for other aircraft as well as communicate effectively across large distances through deployable communi-
Air Force photograph by Senior Airman Andrew Garavito
Two U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 563rd Rescue Group are hoisted up to an HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter after receiving jungle training during exercise Resolute Force Pacific in Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands, July 23, 2025. REFORPAC is part of the first-in-a- generation Department-Level Exercise series, designed to deliver combat airpower to the Indo-Pacific region at speed and scale, and conduct operations in a contested, dynamic environment.
Air Force photograph by Senior Airman Andrew Garavito
Airmen from the 563rd Rescue Group adjust the position of an HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter blade during exercise Resolute Force Pacific in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, July 11, 2025. REFORPAC 25 is the Air Force’s largest contingency response exercise ever conducted in the Pacific.
Air Force pararescueman from the 563rd Rescue Group hoists down from an HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter to rescue a simulated downed pilot during exercise Resolute Force Pacific in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, July 18, 2025. The HH-60W was designed for mission critical operations to include personnel recovery, humanitarian missions, civilian search and rescue, disaster relief, medical evacuation and non- combatant evacuations.
fundamental training that we needed.”
According to Lt. Col. William Theisner, 563rd RQG deputy com- mander, the successes at REFOR- PAC will pave the way for future mission success. “The whole team did a fantastic job at REFOR- PAC,” Theisner said. “Every single challenge we faced, whether an exercise inject or a real-world con- tingency, we met it and completed the mission. By incorporating new technological and military capabilities through exercises like REFORPAC, we’re more capable of responding to challenges in the region and beyond.”
cation kits. The ability to com- municate with partners as far as Guam and Hawaii was critically important for exercise injects such as a simulated downed pilot.
“REFORPAC helped our forc- es become more mission ready, dynamic and agile by provid- ing us with a variable training environment,” said Capt. Jacob Parzych, HH-60W weapons of- ficer. “Generally, exercises are flying focused or ground forces focused. In Air Force rescue, we’ve spent a long duration train- ing to do this in small groups, but this was the first time we saw a larger footprint brought to a loca- tion like this, including sustained support and infrastructure.”
Besides working with local partners, the 563rd RQG received command and control and base operating support-integration from the 11th Air Task Force,
the first air task
force in the U.S.
Air Force to deploy
for a six-month ro-
tation. The 11 ATF
provided logistical
support, opera-
tional setup, special staff func- tions such as the chaplain and medical support, security forces, airfield management and more.
“The ATF did a great job mak- ing sure that we had the facilities and the network capability that we needed to get in this fight,” said Maj. William Berryhill, 79th Rescue Squadron assistant director of operations. Besides the exercise injects, 563rd RQG Airmen also dealt with real- world challenges that included a tropical storm, a tsunami warning and a tasking to render emergency humanitarian aid to a local partner.
Air Force photograph by Senior Airman Andrew Garavito
Because of their training, the Airmen of the 563rd RQG were able to adapt to these chal- lenging situations and remain fully mission capable, making decisions under stress while working together with Allies and partners to improve mili- tary capabilities. “Exercises like REFORPAC are very important for our training,” Parzych said. “I’m a big believer that you’ve got to practice like you play. This was a great opportunity to bring the entire force presenta- tion together to train like we actually would in a deployed environment, and it was the