English: Story and photo by Cpl. Timothy N. Oberle, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade

Public Affairs

HUMPHREYS GARRISON — Conducting an Overwater Personnel Recovery operation can be a tricky mission under normal conditions, but add high-speed winds and large waves to the equation and the exercise becomes much more difficult. In fact, if the weather conditions don’t allow for a 1,200-foot ceiling and at least three miles of visibility, the OWPR exercise is cancelled. In addition to visibility concerns, if the height of the waves where the operation is to take place is above eight feet, the first general officer in the chain of command must give his approval after examining the urgency of the mission.

With conditions just under the acceptable levels, Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, or the “Dust-off” medical evacuation unit from Humphreys Garrison, conducted an OWPR just off of the western coast of Korea, near Kunsan Air Base.