Esprit de Corps

For the first time in Air Force history, a French helicopter pilot recently joined an operational USAF rescue unit as part of a three-year officer exchange program. French Capt. Guillaume Vernet is now a part of the 41st Rescue Squadron at Moody AFB, Ga., and will serve as an HH-60 pilot. “I’m extremely excited to be here,” he said. Vernet started training for the program in October 2007 and on the HH-60G in December. During his tour, he will not only train with the unit, but also participate in exercises and deployments, except to Iraq. As part of the exchange program, Capt. Scott Adams, an HH-60 pilot with the 55th RQS at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., will travel to France and serve with a French CSAR unit at Cazaux Air Force Base that operates the EC 725 Caracal helicopter. (Moody report by A1C Spencer Gallien)