WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE,Ohio -- When two Airmen from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base arrived at their cabin in the middle of the Redwood Forrest in northern California after a long trip from Oregon, they had a decision to make. Should they grab a bite to eat or should they go for a quick hike?

They chose a quick hike, and this decision put them in the right place, at the right time, and perhaps most importantly--with the right training.

Senior Airman Katlyn "Aly" Pascucci, a physical therapy assistant at the Wright-Patterson Medical Center, and Senior Airman John "Alex" Lucic, a unit scheduler in the Security Forces Squadron, were about halfway into their vacation--a 8,300-mile, 24-day trip across the United States.

"It was a beautiful day--sunny and about 68 degrees," said Lucic. "We drove down along the Pacific Coast Highway with the foggy waves in the distance."

So they arrived at their cabin and before even unpacking, they set off to explore the forest with the towering Redwoods.

"We were thinking 'oh it's just a quick hike' so we left everything in the car," said Pascucci. "We didn't have anything with us--no knife, no first aid kit, nothing."

What they did have, however, was their Air Force basic training skills and their Air Force core values.

"Toward the end of our hike, we stopped to look at this huge tree stump that other hikers had carved their names into, and that's when we heard someone hollering," Pascucci explained. 

"We didn't think anything of it at first," said Lucic. "We just figured it was someone calling for their kids."

But as the two Airmen continued to listen, they suddenly realized it was someone calling for help.

"I looked at Aly and said, 'call 911'," said Lucic.

Lucic explained that he then bolted toward the person calling for help, but then with Pascucci's help, thought twice.

"We wanted to make sure it wasn't a trap," said Pascucci.

"So we decided to stay put and call the woman toward us," Lucic explained. "We both watched our side of the path and were watching for any movement."

Finally, the woman made it down the path, and Lucic and Pascucci administered Buddy Care and comforted the woman while they waited for the paramedics and police to arrive.

"The woman told us that she had stopped to help a hitchhiker who was carrying a baby, and two men suddenly appeared, put a knife to her throat, and car-jacked her," explained Pascucci. "Her hands had been tied with her own phone charger, and she told us she had been sexually assaulted."

While they were waiting, Lucic said another vehicle pulled up and had a knife, so he could cut the woman's hands free.

"Her hands were starting to turn blue," he said.

Pascucci said the first responders showed up quickly and then took over from there. The two gave their statements to the police.

The county sheriff wrote a letter to both Airmen, commending them on the ways they helped the victim.

When asked how their military training helped them, both Airmen were quick to say they were prepared and had been trained to anticipate danger.

"Our reaction to the situation and how we worked together was like muscle memory," said Lucic. "The Air Force core values and basic Buddy Care are discussed constantly in Air Force Basic Training, so everything just clicked."

Col. John Devillier, 88th Air Base Wing and installation commander, presented both Lucic and Pascucci with an Air Force Achievement Medal in late January.