Description
This research paper addresses the question of Air Force Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) validity in a world dominated by irregular warfare. Following the cancellation of the CSAR-X acquisition program in 2009 the DoD tasked the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency (JPRA) to study whether Air Force CSAR represented a single service/single mission capability that could be replaced by similar/duplicate capabilities found in other services. The author studied the question by researching joint publications, DoD Directives and sister service documents on personnel recovery. He then discusses the Air Force’s CSAR doctrine and TTPs using some historical examples to illustrate the unique capabilities found in the Air Force. Finally, he details why the Air Force’s capabilities are so important to recovering isolated, missing, detained or captured personnel. Concluding remarks urge the DoD to maintain the current joint PR structure with no changes. In order for Air Force CSAR to remain a viable combat capability into the future, CSAR-X should be fielded as soon as possible to replace the aging fleet of HH-60G Pavehawk helicopters.
