9 Line Medevac

I have people ask me on a regularly about the title of the film: "9 Line".  What does it mean?  I have had both Active Duty and Veterans from all branches ask.  It's not a common knowledge term, but for those who do know what it means, they understand that it means, simply - "rescue". 

The Special Tactics and Special Operations units across the globe clearly understand the importance of receiving a 9 Line request.  It means we have men down, military or civilian, but they are down and in need of help and rescue.  The request is going to inform of a medical evaluation and patient pick up site, necessary equipment and or materials that may be needed for extraction.  Medical personnel from the different branches utilize this information and determine how and who will be sent in.  The Air Force's Special Operations Pararescue Search and Rescue units have quickly become the most common group of men (no there are no women in this career field) to perform such extractions.  The Pararescuers, or more commonly known as PJs (pararescue jumper) are highly trained in combat rescue and live by there motto "that others may live". 

A 9 Line is requested, then received by the what is known as a "TOC" - tactical operations center, the information is then passed onto the "CRO" - combat rescue officer (an officer who is a PJ), who discusses it with his team that will be sent in - the time starts to tick...

9 Line request proceeds as such:

Line 1:  Location
Line 2: Call Sign/Frequency
Line 3:  # of Patients by Precedence
            A- Urgent (w/ in 2 hrs)
            B-Urgent Surgery (w/ in 2 hrs)
            C - Priority (w/ in 4 hrs)
            D - Routine (w/ in 24 hrs)
Line 4:  Special Equipment
            A - None
            B - Hoist
            C - Extraction Equipment (i.e. jaws of life, etc)
            D - Ventilator
Line 5:  # of Patients by Type
            L + #  = Litter
            A + # = Ambulatory
Line 6:  Wartime (Security of PZ)
            N - No enemies
            P - Possible Enemy
            E - Enemy in Area, Proceed with Caution
            X - Enemy in Area, Armed Escort Required
Line 6:  Peacetime (if an extraction is needed stateside or outside of a warzone for example Hurricane Katrina - PJs were called in and this was used compared to the above information)
            Number and Type of Wounded
Line 7:  Method of Marking PZ
            A - Panels (color)
            B - Pyrotechnic Signal
            C - Smoke Signal
            D - None
            E - Other
Line 8:  Patient Nationality and Status
            A - US Military
            B - US Civilian
            C - Non-US Military
            D - Non-US Civilian
            E - EPW
Line 9:  Wartime (NBC Contamination)
            N - Nuclear
            B - Biological
            C - Chemical
             When there is no contamination, a description of the scene, location, will be used, i.e mountain terrain, low trees, etc

Overall, yeah, okay, somewhat simple, to hear one come through or actually read one, is totally different.  In this film, it's all about the 9 Line's that come through during "Chase's" deployment in Afghanistan.  Here is one such 9 Line that is sent in:  (OS means Off Stage)

GONZO - O.S.
Scepter 2-3, this is Gonzo 9, over.
COMPTROLLER 2
Gonzo 9, go for Scepter 2-3 over.
GONZO - O.S.
Scepter 2-3, 9 Line request, over.
COMPTROLLER 2
Gonzo 9, send it, over.
GONZO - O.S.
Line 1: 4-1 Sierra Mike Romeo
3136680729, break.
GONZO - O.S. (CONT'D)
Line 2: Papa Echo, Gonzo 9, break.
GONZO - O.S. (CONT'D)
Line 3: 6 Alpha, 5 Bravo, 8
Charlie, 5 Delta, 4 Echo, break.
80.
GONZO - O.S. (CONT'D)
Line 4: Delta, break.
GONZO - O.S. (CONT'D)
Line 5: 19 Alpha, 9 Bravo, break.
GONZO - O.S. (CONT'D)
Line 6: Papa, break.
GONZO - O.S. (CONT'D)
Line 7: Charlie, break.
GONZO - O.S. (CONT'D)
Line 8: 4 Alpha, 5 Charlie, 19
Delta, break.
GONZO - O.S. (CONT'D)
Line 9: flat and open with
buildings, 250 meters to the
northwest, break.
GONZO - O.S. (CONT'D)
How copy, over.
COMPTROLLER 2
That’s a solid copy Gonzo 9,
standby for inbound Casevac, over.
GONZO - O.S.
Roger that Scepter 2-3, standing
by.

Looks a little different than the original.  Stay tuned for more...