The Heroes Behind “Inside Combat Rescue: The Last Stand”

Many of you may have tuned in for the documentary special by National Geographic, Inside Combat Rescue: The Last Stand.  The two-hour special featured the brave men and women of the 822nd Base Defense Squadron, better known as Reaper Team 5. These men and women were responsible for providing base security for Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. National Geographic had the opportunity to follow this elite unit as they hunted down a Taliban target that had been planning attacks on the airfield. We watched as these courageous men and women risked their lives to ensure the safety of their fellow brothers and sisters in uniform and complete their mission. You can learn more about the special here, on a blog I did covering the premiere.

I, too, had the opportunity to spend time with these heroes during a press junket event hosted by National Geographic at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia. Moody is home to the Reapers, and we were treated to an inside look at the training these squads undergo to prepare for any mission they may face. You can check out my coverage on this unique insight into the squadron here.

As part of this trip, I got to speak with two of the Airmen featured in the show. Today, I would like to introduce you to Senior Airman Kameryn Futral, who was featured on Inside Combat Rescue: The Last Stand. SrA Futral hails from Woodland, Alabama, and has been in the Air Force for two years now. She is one of the few female service members who are a part of this elite Air Force unit and was featured in the special. This was also her first deployment.

Military service is something that seems to run in the Futral family, as she also has an older brother who serves in the Air Force. Futral felt like the Air Force was a good fit for her and was inspired by her own brother’s service, which prompted her to join as well.

I asked SrA Futral how she felt about having National Geographic follow the unit during their time in Afghanistan. She answered that she felt fairly neutral about it. She was excited that people would get to see what they did and hoped it would allow people to better understand what life in the military is like when deployed. She did not feel that NatGeo was a hindrance to their mission, as most of the footage was done through GoPro cameras mounted to their helmets and vehicles, which could be annoying at times, according to Futral, but were not that bad.

During the deployment, SrA Futral was a lead truck driver, and that is the capacity that we see her in during the special; however, what makes their squad unique is that they can be rotated through a variety of job positions due to the fact that they go through several courses and training opportunities, making them certified to act in several roles during a deployment. Whatever the mission requires of them is what they will do.

When asked about her thoughts on Afghanistan as a country, Futral pointed out that it is actually quite beautiful in the springtime. She also explained that there seems to be a lack of trust from the Afghan people, which she noticed during some of their missions into Afghan villages and speaking with the locals. I think this came across in the special as well, when we see the Reapers attempting to gather information from the locals about the location of their Taliban target.

One of the things I find most nerve wracking when watching the Reaper’s story is how they deal with IEDs and other possible explosive devices when they are conducting patrols or going into different areas. SrA Futral explained that she worked hard to be aware of her surroundings, relied on her training, and remained focused on the mission at hand.

It was amazing to get to spend some time with SrA Futral and get to hear her story and experiences firsthand. She is an amazing Airman, and even though she is unsure of her future and whether she will make a career out of the Air Force, I know that we can all expect great things out of this American hero.