28 SFS increases snow rescue capabilities

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Abigail Klein
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  The 28th Security Forces Squadron installed a rubber track conversion system on two of their all-terrain vehicles in order to improve their snow rescue capabilities on Dec. 19, 2008.

The idea to use the conversion system on vehicles is a method already employed by the 28th Logistics Readiness Squadron to improve snow travel for their government vehicles, said Staff Sgt. John Cooke, 28 SFS assistant NCO in charge of mobility.

The decision to use rubber tracks for 28 SFS ATVs was a collaborative suggestion from the squadron, motivated primarily by the November 2008 blizzard, Sergeant Cooke said.

"The night of the blizzard [Nov. 5, 2008] one of our flight chiefs on patrol was stuck in the snow, and we were not able to reach him for 17 hours," Sergeant Cooke said. "Weather should not be able to prevent prompt rescues."

In order to hasten rescue time and aid their mission, the 28 SFS focused on rescue vehicles capable of accelerated travel during inclement weather.

"We originally wanted to order snowmobiles for future rescue missions," Sergeant Cooke said. "However, we quickly realized that snow was not the only deterrent to faster rescues. We needed a vehicle with the ability to travel over all types of terrain presented at Ellsworth."

The installation of the rubber track conversion system on two of the 28 SFS ATVs presented a solution to this problem.

After receiving approval from Col. Micheal Yuill, 28th Mission Support Group commander, 28 SFS mobility ordered the tracks in early December 2008.

After receiving them less than a week later, Sergeant Cooke and Senior Airman Samuel Manthey, 28 SFS assistant NCO in charge of mobility, replaced the standard tires of two of their ATVs with the rubber tracks.

The 28 SFS mobility quickly began testing travel capabilities of the rubber tracks after their installation.

The tracks, wider than standard ATV tires, not only allow for expedient snow travel, they also allow for smoother travel over inclines -- a feature the standard ATV wheels are unable to perform, Airman Manthey said. The tracks are also capable of travel over sand and swamp-covered terrain.

The upgraded ATVs include a set of halogen and emergency lights, which increase visibility and improve safety for those on patrol, especially in blizzard conditions.

These upgrades should allow 28 SFS safer access to patrol replacements during blizzards, said Sergeant Cooke. This virtually eliminates the possibility of our patrols having to work 48-hour shifts during blizzards because of limited transportation capability.

"Weather will no longer be a deterrent to our ability to perform our mission," he said.