Archive image: A Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew retrieves a mannequin representing the missing person during a SAR exercise (SAREX) on the Island of Hawaii, May 20, 2022.
SAREXs are held annually throughout the Hawaiian Islands and are designed to evaluate notification and response procedures and identify shortfalls in communication and coordination of response during SAR incidents.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Honolulu photo
HONOLULU — The U.S. Coast Guard, Navy, Honolulu Fire Department, Honolulu Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services, and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources conducted a SAREX (search and rescue exercise) off Oahu, Sept. 27, 2023.
“The exercise improved interagency cohesion between organizations and first responders with one goal in common, saving lives. Continuing to work and understand each other’s capabilities is paramount in overcoming challenges that might be faced,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Austin Bayless, the training petty officer for U.S. Coast Guard Station Honolulu. “We look forward to working with these agencies in the future and continuing to uphold our search and rescue posture.»
The two-day exercise took place on the water and in the air off Magic Island with Coast Guard and local agencies working together to test and evaluate interagency communications, response plans, and responders’ actions during a simulated scenario involving missing mariners.
During the search and rescue exercise, Oscar mannequins equipped with orange data buoy markers were deployed to simulate missing individuals in the water. Once notified of the persons in the water, multiple agencies deployed assets and coordinated a joint rescue response.
The exercise was held to enhance interoperability between the Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force while conducting mobile air traffic control operations in austere environments.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Brandon Aultman.
Assets involved in this SAREX:
- U.S. Coast Guard District 14 Command Center personnel
- U.S. Coast Guard Sector Honolulu Command Center personnel
- U.S. Navy HSM-37 MH-60R Seahawk helicopter aircrew
- Honolulu Fire Department’s Air 1 helicopter aircrew and rescue boat crew
- Honolulu Fire Department Drone crew
- Honolulu Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Jet-ski operators
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Jet-ski operators
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources rescue boat crew
Coast Guard Sector Honolulu personnel conduct joint agency SAREXs annually throughout the Hawaiian Islands. These exercises are designed to evaluate notification and response procedures, identify shortfalls in communication, and coordination of response during search and rescue incidents. Every agency provides capabilities that complement the other’s efforts and bolsters the overall success of the search and rescue system. Familiarity with processes and the people involved are critical to success.
–USCG–
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Coast Guard Station Honolulu 45-Response Boat-medium conducting search and rescue training with partners.
U.S. Coast Guard photo.
U.S. Coast Guard Station Honolulu 45-Response Boat-medium conducting search and rescue training with partners.
U.S. Coast Guard photo.
