By David Leder

Central Washington University’s Air Force ROTC will be welcoming a special guest to the Ellensburg campus on Wednesday, May 4 @ 3:00PM, Music Building Lawn.

The 36th Rescue Squadron from Fairchild Air Force Base will arrive via helicopter at 3 p.m. on the lawn outside of the McIntyre Music Building on the east end of campus, and the service members will give a short demonstration to the campus community.

Anyone is welcome to attend the demonstration, which will be hosted by members of CWU’s AFROTC Detachment 895. The guests from the 36th Rescue Squadron (aka “36 RQS”) will discuss what they do and provide tours of the helicopter. 

The 36 RQS supports the Air Force’s Survival School training through hands-on helicopter operations. Training for more than 4,000 students per year is conducted at Fairchild, located near Spokane, while the helicopter is stationed at a field location in the Colville National Forest, about 60 miles north.

The school’s flight operations include live rescue hoist training, Paradrop demonstrations, and combat rescue procedures training for students in the basic Combat Survival Course. The 36 RQS also supports the National Search-and-Rescue (SAR) Plan by conducting SAR and medical evacuation missions in a four-state region, from the Cascades in Washington to the Rockies in western Montana. 

The unit’s unique capabilities often are the difference between life and death for lost or injured hikers, hunters, skiers, and other outdoor enthusiasts. The 36 RQS has an exemplary record of humanitarian assistance in lifesaving SAR operations, responding to more than 200 requests for assistance and saving more than 140 lives since 2001. The squadron responds to an average of 10-15 calls for assistance each year, and has been credited with saving more than 700 lives since its inception in 1971. 

If you have questions about Wednesday’s on-campus event, call 509-963-2314 or email afrotc@cwu.edu. 

Media Contact: David Leder, Department of Public Affairs, David.Leder@cwu.edu, 509-963-1518