CAMP DENALI, Alaska—The 11th Rescue Coordination Center received a request for assistance from the Alaska State Troopers early Morning morning for a search and rescue (SAR) 50 miles northeast of Talkeetna.

The Alaska State Troopers received a SOS notification via a SPOT personal beacon activation that at least one individual near the Chulitna River was in distress and required assistance.

Due to the location and possible need for a hoist-capable aircraft, the 11^th Rescue Coordination Center requested mission support from the Alaska Air National Guard.

The 210^th Rescue Squadron promptly responded with a UH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter carrying two ‘Guardian Angel’ pararescuemen from the 212^th Rescue Squadron.

“Shortly after launching the SAR mission, the 210^th and 212^th Rescue Squadron’s located two distressed individuals,” said Maj. John Morse, 11^th RCC, search and rescue controller. “They were able to land and loaded the two rafters into the Pave Hawk.”

According to the RCC, the two river rafters appeared to be uninjured and were flown back to Talkeetna where they were released to Alaska State Troopers.

“Because it was a SPOT beacon activation, when the request for assistance came in we didn’t have any details about the individuals, we only had a general idea of where they were and that they required help,” Morse said. “With that in mind, we knew that the 210^th and 212^th Rescue Squadrons had the capabilities to handle any situation they found the distressed personnel in. They got in, found them quickly and got them back to safety.”

The Alaska Air National Guard was awarded two saves for the mission.