Category Alpha News Today

The pilots fly fast and aggressively. to better see dangers on the ground, the crews leave the helicopter doors open. feet dangling out, kept in by g force and straps. staff sergeant matt scholar on more than 75 missions like this. >> flying out there, its so dynamic. thinking, looks outside the aircraft looking for threats. we are so vulnerable flying over. however fast or however high. people want to try to take pot shots at us, shoot us. im scanning for threats. >> reporter: the category alph...

Rescue crews on the missions in southern afghanistan and theyre widely considered among the finest in the world. theyre among the u.s. militarys most elite, highly trained airmen. their specialty is combat rescue. flying on to battlefields under fire to recover wounded troops. >> quicker to get them to the operating room, the better the chances of survival. thats back home and here on the battlefield, as well. >> reporter: officially theyre combat paramedics but the airmen go by the pedros. any ...

Good about that. >> reporter: between missions, the crews maintain equipment, prep the helicopters and work out. >> when the call comes, flip that switch. its go time. >> reporter: in afghanistan, these days, its often go time. they have received another category alpha. an american convoy has been hit by an ied. one american is severely injured. details about the condition are radioed in as the helicopter speeds to the blast speed at 100 miles per hour. >> lower extremities unknown. conscious. m...