Mobility Support Advisory Squadrons develop SOUTHCOM’s Joint Rope Rescue Training

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Juan Castañeda Lopez, Security Forces Air Advisor and Team Sergeant assigned to the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron, executes pick-off utilizing line-transfer techniques. The 571st and 818th Mobility Support Advisory Squadrons remain committed to working with partner nations across the region to build sustainable aviation capabilities that promote security, stability, and readiness throughout the Western Hemisphere. [Photo by: Capt William Colón Cruz, 571 MSAS.]

Mobility Support Advisory Squadrons develop SOUTHCOM’s Joint Rope Rescue Training

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Joel Sanchez Rosado, Standards and Evaluations OIC, assigned to the 818th Mobility Support Advisory Squadron, performs a high-angle patient transport into a static helicopter. The 571st and 818th Mobility Support Advisory Squadrons remain committed to working with partner nations across the region to build sustainable aviation capabilities that promote security, stability, and readiness throughout the Western Hemisphere. [Photo by: Capt William Colón Cruz, 571 MSAS.]

Mobility Support Advisory Squadrons develop SOUTHCOM’s Joint Rope Rescue Training

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt Neal Graham, Communications Air Advisor assigned to the 571st mobility Support Advisory Squadron, utilizes a Stokes basket to safely transport a patient ascending to a static helicopter. The 571st and 818th Mobility Support Advisory Squadrons remain committed to working with partner nations across the region to build sustainable aviation capabilities that promote security, stability, and readiness throughout the Western Hemisphere. Photo by: SPC Richard Morgan, JSCG-P.

Mobility Support Advisory Squadrons develop SOUTHCOM’s Joint Rope Rescue Training

Published March 18, 2026
By 1st Lt Joel Sánchez Rosado and Capt William Colón Cruz
571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE. Calif. --

Eight air advisors from the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron (MSAS) and the 818 MSAS deployed with the Joint Security Cooperation Group-Panama (JSCG-P), Jan. 24.

The 571 MSAS team conducted rope rescue training across multiple locations, including the Teniente Octavio Rodriguez Air Base, with 27 members of Panama’s Servicio Nacional Aeronaval in attendance. The training covered a plethora of search and rescue (SAR) tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).

Lead instructor, U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Frank Butler, firefighter assigned to the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron, trained seven USAF personnel. The mission strengthened U.S. service members’ operational skills with Aeronaval SAR personnel, allowing joint observation of SAR TTPs supporting Panama’s 4.38 million residents and regional counter-narcotics efforts.

The training focused on basic rope rescue topics such as rescue equipment familiarization, knots, patient packaging into recovery devices, a variety of rappelling techniques, mechanical advantages, and low and high angle rescue across different terrains such as hills, cliffs, valleys, towers, and a static helicopter elevated at 40 feet.

“As air advisors, we are specialized personnel assigned to train, assess, advise, assist, and equip for security cooperation, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring interoperability,” Butler said. “Our team must be able to perform self-rescue and team-rescue techniques effectively in any environment.”

The mission's primary objective was to develop and validate a rope rescue curriculum for U.S. air advisors and 15 partner nations within U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility. This was achieved by training and qualifying air advisors from eight different career fields on critical contingency operations.

The engagement, conducted in collaboration with Aeronaval SAR, provided a valuable opportunity to test the curriculum's effectiveness, enhance U.S. personnel's interoperability with a key partner nation, and strengthen bilateral relations.

The 571 and 818 MSAS continue to play a vital role in strengthening global mobility partnerships. This mission underscores the Air Force’s dedication to security cooperation and direct alignment with the 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS), to secure key terrain in the western hemisphere.