The White Falcon - 24.05.2002, Blaðsíða 7

Exercise Bright Eye strives to improve
NATO search and rescue capabilities
By J02 Jean Ross
The term ‘search-and-rescue’ conjures
images of helicopters hovering over the
ocean as divers dangle over the side scooping
people from the water. However, as the
NATO exercise “Bright Eye” will test, there’s
a lot more to search-and-rescue.
According to Lt. Peter Hakewessell,
Iceland Defense Force current operations
officer, Bright Eye is an international search-
and-rescue, (SAR) exercise which allows the
IDF Joint Rescue Coordination Center at
Keflavik to get together with other centers to
test and make recommendations on search-
and-rescue procedures. The main goal of
Bright Eye is to exercise the command and
control of SAR operations and to motivate
allied countries to improve coordination.
For two weeks in May, rescue centers from
nine NATO nations will participate in the
exercise. Iceland, the United States,
Denmark, the Netherlands, the United
Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Germany and
Belgium are all working together to evaluate
their ability to coordinate search and rescue
operations in the North Atlantic.
“If a ship or aircraft is in distress, or ditch-
es between bound-
aries of search and
rescue regions, then
we may have to coor-
dinate with many dif-
ferent centers.
Differences in communication are a key fac-
tor. The British, for instance may talk or use
their assets differently. We have to be sure we
are using internationally recognized proce-
dures,” said Hakewessell.
According to Hakewessell, the 85th group
Command Post has been involved with the
coordination of each exercise incident, as
some 85th Group assets will be deployed to
Eastern Iceland for the exercise. P-3 aircraft
from Patron Keflavik VP-45 will also be
involved in the exercise as well as helicopters
from the 56th Rescue Squadron.
The exercise scenarios will include a sim-
ulated P3 ditch off the Eastern Coast of
Iceland and a reenactment of an accident last
year involving a private plane that was flying
from Reykjavik to Prestwick, UK that
crashed between the Westmann Islands and
Faroe Islands.
thoughts and prayers.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff and I
join every American this
Memorial Day, to pause and
reflect upon the sacrifices made
by so many of our fellow citizens
in times of war and conflict
throughout our nation’s history.
We also salute the dedicated men
and women of today’s Armed
Forces, whether defending our
homeland or serving around the
world.
932nd from page 1
ing the 932nd. He also spoke
on how things have changed
since the 50s, including
updates to radar systems,
instantaneous transmission of
information and the sites being
run entirely by civilians.
“The salient point is howev-
er, the purpose of the site has
not changed,” noted Bodvars-
son.
He also addressed the veter-
ans and thanked them for all
their hard work.
“We are grateful for the lega-
cy you left and we will contin-
ue to work in your spirit and
take pride in providing good
service,” said Bodvarsson.
To carry on the theme of
looking toward the future, a
time capsule was also dedicat-
ed which contains base news-
paper articles on the squadron,
a limited edition coin, special
patches, stickers, photos and
documents. The capsule will be
opened again in 2012.
“We hope that the effects
preserved inside will give just a
little bit of an indication of
what life and duty was like at
the squadron here in the year
2002,” said Reichardt.
Holiday from page 1
their lives in the attacks of
September 11, 2001. We are
deeply saddened by their deaths,
but eternally grateful for their
sacrifice.
It remains our challenge to do
our very best to remain true to
the principles and beliefs in
which they so fervently believed
and which they so valiantly
fought to preserve. Their loved
ones who carry on remain in our
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May 24, 2002
The White Falcon
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