Alaska Air Guard Stars in 'Man vs. Wild' Show
Kalei Brooks - National Guard
Sep 23, 2009
KULIS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Alaska -- The Alaska Air National Guard’s rescue units based here provide civilian search and rescue support 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.
But on a sunny afternoon in June, the 210th Rescue Squadron was flying to Spencer Glacier in the heart of the Chugach National Forest to drop off a passenger, who would have to fend for himself and navigate back to civilization on his own.
The passenger was Bear Grylls, the host of the Discovery Channel’s hit show, "Man vs. Wild."
The television series features Grylls, who demonstrates how to survive in the wilderness, overcoming wild animals, lack of food and sterile drinking water, all while navigating back to civilization or attracting rescue help.
Partnering with the Alaska Air National Guard’s 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons was a perfect fit. The two units rescue 10 times as many people each year than all the other rescue squadrons in the United States combined.
In 2008, the Alaska Air Guard was credited with 54 saves and spent 383 hours on search and rescue missions.
For the show, the 210th Rescue Squadron flew Grylls in a HH-60 Pave Hawk following the ridgeline of scenic mountain tops before hovering about 10 stories over Spencer Glacier, while Grylls rappelled out of the helicopter down to the ice.
"The opening of the show was spectacular," wrote the show’s assistant director, Duncan Gaudin. "High octane!"
With their participation, viewers around the world now know a little more about the Alaska Air Guard’s capabilities and rescue specialties.
The "Man vs. Wild -- Alaska" episode aired in early September and will be repeated throughout the season.
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