REGIMENT SPECIAL FORCE (RSF) SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCTS INTENSIVE HELIBORNE SEARCH AND RESCUE TRAINING
11:55pm on Wednesday 29th November 2023
The Regiment Special Force (RSF) is the prime element of the Sri Lanka Air Force tasked with conducting future Search and Rescue (SAR) operations in any type of terrain through hand-to-hand coordination with SLAF Helicopter fleets and Sister Services. The RSF Training School (RSFTS) at SLAF Station Morawewa has conducted numerous Heli-borne Operation-related training exercises to train foreign and allied services' Elite Force personnel for conducting future Search and Rescue missions over land and sea areas, evacuating distressed pilots, aircrew and civilians during air crashes or any type of natural or man-made catastrophes.
Recently, the RSFTS conducted the No. 08 Heliborne Operation training module, which comprised tower training exercises for Abseiling, Rappelling, Fast Rope, Heli Marshaling, and Special Rescue Training methods, aiming to create a feasible platform for conducting aircraft training exercises with the same context. Additionally, the same training modules, including mapcraft and GPS handling, incorporated GPS march to locate distressed personnel in any terrain under any situation. The aircraft training exercise phase included Rapid Deployment, Rappelling, Rope Rescue, Insertion and Extraction, and CASEVAC Operation using the litter kit exercise, conducted at SLAF Base Hingurakgoda and SLAF Base Anuradhapura.
A total of 32 trainees successfully completed the course, including a Zambian Air Force Officer, a STF Officer, three STF personnel, four SL Army Commandos, three SL Army Special Forces personnel, one SL Army Air Mobile Person, four SL Navy Special Boat Squadron members, four SL Navy Marines, and 11 RSF personnel. Furthermore, RSFTS, the prominent elite force training school, has provided training to more than 40 foreign trainees to date, with Zambian Air Force Officer Major Martin Mpangayonse participating as the 41st foreign trainee in this course.
The entire training exercises were conducted under the supervision of the Commanding Officer of the Regiment Special Forces Wing, Wing Commander Sumith Bandara, who led the training program under the guidance and direct supervision of Director General Air Operations, Air Vice Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, Acting Director General Ground Operations, Air Vice Marshal Chaminda Wikramarathne, and Director General Training, Air Vice Marshal Lasith Sumanaweera.
The closing ceremony took place yesterday (29 November 2023) at SLAF Station Morawewa, and the occasion was graced by the Commanding Officer of Sri Lanka Air Force Station Morawewa, Group Captain Hemantha Balasooriya, who served as the Chief Guest. Certificates were awarded to the trainees who successfully completed the training.
Recently, the RSFTS conducted the No. 08 Heliborne Operation training module, which comprised tower training exercises for Abseiling, Rappelling, Fast Rope, Heli Marshaling, and Special Rescue Training methods, aiming to create a feasible platform for conducting aircraft training exercises with the same context. Additionally, the same training modules, including mapcraft and GPS handling, incorporated GPS march to locate distressed personnel in any terrain under any situation. The aircraft training exercise phase included Rapid Deployment, Rappelling, Rope Rescue, Insertion and Extraction, and CASEVAC Operation using the litter kit exercise, conducted at SLAF Base Hingurakgoda and SLAF Base Anuradhapura.
A total of 32 trainees successfully completed the course, including a Zambian Air Force Officer, a STF Officer, three STF personnel, four SL Army Commandos, three SL Army Special Forces personnel, one SL Army Air Mobile Person, four SL Navy Special Boat Squadron members, four SL Navy Marines, and 11 RSF personnel. Furthermore, RSFTS, the prominent elite force training school, has provided training to more than 40 foreign trainees to date, with Zambian Air Force Officer Major Martin Mpangayonse participating as the 41st foreign trainee in this course.
The entire training exercises were conducted under the supervision of the Commanding Officer of the Regiment Special Forces Wing, Wing Commander Sumith Bandara, who led the training program under the guidance and direct supervision of Director General Air Operations, Air Vice Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, Acting Director General Ground Operations, Air Vice Marshal Chaminda Wikramarathne, and Director General Training, Air Vice Marshal Lasith Sumanaweera.
The closing ceremony took place yesterday (29 November 2023) at SLAF Station Morawewa, and the occasion was graced by the Commanding Officer of Sri Lanka Air Force Station Morawewa, Group Captain Hemantha Balasooriya, who served as the Chief Guest. Certificates were awarded to the trainees who successfully completed the training.
