'Search and Rescue' Is Not Just a Frill

April 5, 2003 — -- There are few missions as exciting and noble as combat search and rescue missions — daring dashes behind enemy lines, not to kill, but to save lives.

The Iraq war is just over two weeks old, but with its massive deployment, it has given search and rescue teams plenty to do.

As of Tuesday, when the Defense Department announced the rescue of Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch, combat search and rescue operations had successfully recovered 67 coalition personnel from hostile situations.

Lynch, 19, had been held as a prisoner of war since she and other members of her unit were ambushed March 23 near Nasiriyah.

Details about search and rescue operations are tightly guarded, but the past conflicts have provided some hints to what goes on when an American soldier, airman or sailor goes missing.

The lead service for Combat Search and Rescue — CSAR — operations is the Air Force, according to Pentagon regulations, but it is responsible for all branches.

In Iraq, the search and rescue network is attached to the Combined Air Operations Center, which controls the U.S.-led air campaign.

When a distress call comes in, military planners have to answer a number of crucial questions: Where is the closest rescue craft? How far away are enemy troops? What kind of firepower do they have? How much air support do we need? How much time do we have?

A recent test by CSAR professionals conducted at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada suggested that after two hours on the ground, the odds begin to turn against a successful rescue, retired Col. Darrel Whitcomb wrote in Air and Space Power, a Pentagon professional journal.

"When an aircrew is down, time works against us. Our enemies realize that we will make the effort and will try to rescue our personnel. We must assume that they know of our efforts and probably have some knowledge of our specific techniques," Whitcomb wrote.

The enemy may also be using a distress signal to lure U.S. rescue forces into a trap, military planners note. So add one more obligation to the list for search and rescue commanders — verify identity.