News-Miner Editorial
Farewell, MAST
Interior will miss helicopter rescue specialists
Published Tuesday, July 1, 2008
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Stumble It!As of today, Interior Alaska residents cannot expect that a helicopter will swoop in to save them from their travails in the wilderness — at least not in as efficient a manner as we have become accustomed.
Company C of the 1st Battalion 52nd Aviation Regiment — providers of the Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic service, or MAST — is no longer available for local service. The unit is leaving for Afghanistan.
We wish the men and women of this unit well and pray for their safe return.
We also send this unit off with a kind of thanks that is difficult to put into words.
In the past, the people of this Army unit have spoken humbly of a symbiotic relationship in their local MAST duties. They help locals in trouble and, in so-doing, keep themselves in well-trained condition for the kind of mission they now must embark upon. They’re off to war, and that’s what they’ve been training for.
For people who live here, though, this relationship goes beyond just something that is mutually beneficial. Lives have been saved due to MAST’s presence here. It is impossible to fully thank a unit for its service as lives have hung in the balance.
To those on the receiving end, this was a lot more than live training.
To say the sight of those helicopters with the red cross on the side will be missed is a gross understatement. They have become a fixture in our skies and a welcomed sight at that. We will miss MAST in more ways that one.
And now we are on our own. Alaska Air National Guard, Alaska State Troopers and private companies are working together to fill in this cavernous gap in public service.
Months after the first warnings, borough and state officials are still essentially stymied for a parallel offering. Without the resources of the Army, this is a service that is simply impossible to duplicate.
But local and statewide efforts have been made, and what is devised will have to be good enough. Any system we turn to will naturally be slower to respond in most cases and personnel available 24/7 might not be as highly trained and experienced — not that anyone who heeds such a call will be any less heroic.
Help is still available, but Alaskans must now be on notice to think a little harder about self preservation and survival when they leave civilization. A cell phone or satellite phone can still be a life-saver — but those who will be doing the life saving likely will take longer to arrive.
Community Discussion
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As a former pilot and maintenance officer of this unit when it was designated the 283rd MEDIVAC in the mid 80's, it was a pleasure to serve and to see in real life situations how a military specialty can serve the local community. I wish the members of this honored unit the best in their future mission. I know they will accomplish this mission in an outstanding manner, as they have all others in their past. I feel for the Fairbanks area as they know it will be impossible to fill the void with another that could respond in a like manner.
Aviator, I agree with 'impossible to fill the void with another that could respond in a like manner'. Witnessed many of MAST reponse throughout the Interior and even had to use it once for myself. It was with such professionalism the crew handled my situation. Thankful they were available that day.
Thank-you MAST. I am very thank-full for the service that was provided. We will keep you all in thoughts and prayers until you return.
I wrote the original grant to get MAST to the Interior back in 1979. There were many people involved in getting the research together for that grant. The Interior Region EMS Council was recognized for their help in additional training and for the completeness of the application to move MAST from Ft. Sam Houston. It has been truly a life saver to have the 283rd MEDEVAC based at Ft. Wainwright. With the help of an extra fuel tank in the UH1H-"Huey" MAST's helicopters could get to Tanana, Ft. Yukon and with a refuel at the then Ft. Greely to Tok. Alaska Emergeny Medical needs will take longer now in the Interior. However, an Alaska Air National Guard unit based out of Anchorage will take over. God Speed and take care of yourselves. Thank you for your service
I was fortunate to fly for the 283th in the early 80s. The mind numbing boredom of the Fort Greely standby mission was frequently interrupted with the adventure of a MAST call.
I’ll never forget flying low and fast into Denali with the sun at our back to pick up those injured when the tour bus rolled down the hill. As we flew into the valley and parallel to the road looking for disaster, the low angle of the sun had colored the mountain range a deep orange. The blades of the old Huey beat the air into submission, causing the park’s fauna to flee. It was spectacular!
We quickly loaded three patients on stretchers and made the run back to Fairbanks. As I recall, the rescue center at Elmendorf credited our crew with two lives saved. All three survived.
Gods speed to the men and women of this MAST unit. They will be missed.
On behalf of Salcha Rescue, we thank you for your presence and service for our coverage area. You have bought a lot of 'golden hours' for people here, be it upriver or on the highway.
Keep yer head on a swivel, and Godspeed.
I would like to thank all the people of Alaska for their support in this upcoming deployment. I wish the best for each and every one of you.
- A MAST Crewmember-
No, Thank You!
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