News & Stories

CIWT Hosts REMC 50th Anniversary Observance for Operation Homecoming
March 2, 2023 — On Mar. 1, the Robert E. Mitchell Center (REMC) for Prisoner of War Studies held their observance for the 50th anniversary of Operation Homecoming on Corry Station... MORE

Retired Navy Cmdr. Everett Alvarez, who served as a pilot during the Vietnam War and is the second longest held POW in U.S. history, related his experiences exiting Vietnam and going through the reintegration process of Operation Homecoming, during the Robert E. Mitchell Center (REMC) for Prisoner of War Studies observance for the 50th anniversary of Operation Homecoming held on Corry Station, Mar. 1, 2023.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency visits JPRA
February 22, 2023 — On 26 January 2023, William Newell, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) Indo-Pacific Directorate Research Analyst, received direct support from the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency (JPRA) Archives in researching homecoming statements of specific personnel who returned to the U.S. at the end of direct U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War... MORE

From left to right: Ashley Hove, JPRA Lessons Learned, Barb Connors, JPRA Branch Chief, William Newell, DPAA, and Ronald Witherspoon, JPRA Archives

USN, USCG, USAF Participate in Mass Casualty Drill
February 2, 2023 — Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 3 Chief of Naval Operations Search and Rescue Model Manager (SARMM) oversaw a joint agency search and rescue personnel recovery event off the coast of Southern California, Jan. 19-20... MORE

TNSF Fellow Receives Retired Blood Chit for her Exemplary Service
January 13, 2023 — During her fellowship, Hamna Khan created a joint network of federal subject matter experts to develop a next-gen emergency search and rescue beacon, innovating the future of civil search and rescue... MORE

Hamna Khan holding up a Blood Chit she received after working with JPRA

Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Makes Visit to JPRA HQ
January 4, 2023 — On 17 November 2022, the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency (JPRA) hosted Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (SEAC) Ramón “CZ” Colón-López... MORE

Senior Enlisted Leader to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and JPRA Enlisted Leaders stand together on the steps of JPRA Headquarters at Fort Belvoir, VA.

Skills Needed to Survive in Isolation
August 24, 2022 — Over 1,000 U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) cadet trainees are learning and preparing to survive and evade in harsh environments during Combat Survival Training and the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency (JPRA) is providing staff assistance... MORE

From left to right, USAF Col. Anne-Marie Contreras, director, Joint Personal Recovery Agency, USAF Brig. Gen. Paul D. Moga, commandant of cadets, United States Air Force Academy, Mr. Steven P. Kelly, division chief, JPRA J7/9, Mr. Richard S. Buchholz, JPRA J7 branch chief - SERE Assessments, and USAF MSgt. Paul W. Daggett, JPRA senior enlisted advisor.

NASA and NOAA Visit JPRA
May 20, 2022 — On April 28, Dr. Lisa Mazzuca, search and rescue office chief, NASA; and Thomas Renkevens, satellite products and services division chief, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, visited the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency Headquarters on Fort Belvoir, Va. They met with Col. Anne-Marie Contrera, JPRA director; and JPRA staff, to discuss... MORE

Building Joint Personnel Recovery Through Multinational Collaboration
November 5, 2018 — The Multinational Capability Development Campaign is a Joint Force initiative, which focuses on conducting coalition and multinational operations associated with personnel recovery. This article shows how partner nations can effectively coordinate their military, diplomatic and civilian efforts to prepare for and execute the recovery and reintegration of isolated personnel. By developing a common lexicon and standardizing doctrine and policy, the Joint Force can improve interagency capabilities and solve this common problem affordably and effectively. However, partner nations must first underscore the importance of effective personnel recovery, and senior leaders must prioritize personnel recovery in all preparations and planning... MORE

Pararescuemen practice personnel recovery mission during PJ Rodeo Competition near Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, September 20, 2016 (U.S. Air Force/Brandon Shipiro)

Fairchild units ‘team’ to conduct first-ever KC-135 OSC Exercise
September 15, 2011 — Earlier this year, a military aircraft went down in Afghanistan and the aircrew evaded through enemy terrain. A Fairchild KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft was nearby conducting operations and was the first to receive communications from the downed survivors. Once they positively authenticated the survivors, the Fairchild crew began to act as the... MORE

1st Lt. Alexander Denton, 92nd Air Refueling Squadron co-pilot, evades potential enemy threats as Staff Sgt. Justin Reiter, 92nd Operations Support Squadron safety observer, looks on during the On-Scene Commander Exercise Sept. 1 in Ione, Wash. (U.S. Air Force photos/Tech Sgt. J.T. May III)

Ambassador Ray visits Fairchild
June 26, 2009 — Ambassador Charles Ray, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Prisoner of War and Missing Personnel Affairs and former United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia, recently visited Fairchild to speak at the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape graduation that took place June 12. Ambassador Ray also attended a retirement ceremony and... MORE

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