Unit 669 Airborne Rescue And Evacuation | military, medical, helicopter, squadron (military)

 military, medical, helicopter, squadron (military)

669 (Hebrew: יחידת החילוץ והפינוי בהיטס 669‎,Yechidat Hilu'z Vehapinu'i Behethes 669; English: Airborne Rescue And Evacuation Unit 669) is the Israel Defense Forces heliborne medevac extraction unit, subordinate to the Special Air Forces Command of the Israeli Air Force. It is considered one of the IDF's premier elite units.

Unit 669 heliborne MEDEVAC display during IAF cadet graduation ceremony. Unit 669 was founded in 1974, in the aftermath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, when an ad-hoc medevac unit made some 5000 extractions. Its initial mandate was to extract and provide initial medical treatment to downed (and possibly injured) pilots beyond enemy lines. However, in later years the unit also participated in extraction of soldiers of other arms of the Israeli Defense Forces, especially Sayeret (Special Forces) fighters in operations beyond enemy lines and seamen in distress.

Due to the possibility of having to fight their way to casualties beyond enemy lines, unit soldiers are highly trained in special forces tactics and become highly efficient ground soldiers in addition to their high level of paramedic training. Typically, their training and selection lasts 18 months. Courses that candidates must pass include:

Combat medics' course
Parachuting course in the IDF Parachuting School
Scuba Diving course
Counter-terrorism course in the IDF Counter-Terror Warfare School
Snappling course
Rescue under harsh conditions
Navigation
Commanders' course

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