I hope I'm posting this in the right place. I'm building a pavehawk and have come across some photos of troops roping out of it. I can not discern from the photo the type of troop. As far as I know, the USAF does not have infantry. Could this be a cooperation between two branches of the military? I would have thought that the special forces would be inserted by their own version of the helicopter? Can someone help me with this?

USAF Para-rescue Jumpers (PJs) will routinely rapel out of MH/HH-60Gs. Usually, HH-60G are reserved for Combat Search And Rescue (CSAR)and are not used to insert other services' personnel.

Can you post the pic so we can see the uniform and maybe give you a more definitive answer?

Unfortunately, I did not save. I can't remember whether it was a Google or Yahoo search. I'll see if I can find it again, tomorrow.

I found a similar image described as a pavehawk assisting with Marine training in Okinawa.

Navy is also sometimes assisted by USAF choppers to insert SEALs. After the joining of Marines into SOCOM they can practicly be anyone dangling from a HH-60. Even ODA or Delta maybe. Hard to tell without a photo...come to think of it concidering the mixed equipment they use it is even harder to determine what unit a soldier belongs even with a photo.

Here's another example :

"U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers with the 19th Special Forces Group fast-rope down from a USAF HH-60G Pavehawk helicopter during a Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) exercise" :



Full size

Frenchy

I am also considering having the US Marines set of evacuating a fallen soldier to a HH-60 or building a aerial refueling boom. If I go with the rope method, I am unsure of how to mount the helo as if it were hovering. Of course, I would have the same issue with refueling. However, I could simply set the HH-60 on a clear base.

Matt,
The Air Force has what is known as Security Forces which is charged with air base defense,and other law enforcement tasks. We also practised pilot rescue senarios.

It was determined after Vietnam that the AF would be responsible for it's own security and started for all intent and purposes it's own light infantry.

All tactics are taught from Army TM's for compatability with any Army reinforcements.

This training is done at Lackland/Bullis AFB in Texas.Some of the training is specific to aircraft defense,but other training addresses clearing buildings and search techniques.
A lot time is spent with weapons,night vision etc.

It is pretty much the same as when I was in the Army infantry,except there is more emphasis on individual actions due to 2 to 4 person teams.

Jake