Second rotation of rescue wing Airmen depart for war

Published Sept. 28, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Leslie Forshaw
920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Helicopter aviators, aircraft maintainers and support Airmen from the Air Force Reserve's 920th Rescue Wing departed here Sept. 28 en route to replacing rescue Airmen who have been in Afghanistan since May. This is the second rotation for the yearlong deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Air Force C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft arrived the same day to transport the reservists and their equipment overseas.

"We have been a part of the war from the beginning. This will be our fourth tour to Afghanistan since Sept. 11, 2001," said Col. Jeffrey Macrander, 920th Rescue Wing commander.

Wing HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, as well as the Air Force reservists will deploy for four-month rotations through 2012. The helicopters are traded out throughout the deployment to keep up with their maintenance and repairs.

Along with rescue wing Airmen, Team Patrick personnel provided vital support to help get the reservists on their way. This support included aircraft fueling and cargo loading, as well as passenger, aircrew and cargo transportation, mobility bag issue, airfield operations support, weapons storage and issue, and if needed, aircraft spare parts and accountability.

While in Afghanistan, the reservists will save lives by using their skills and equipment to perform medical evacuation operations. These MEDEVAC missions involve picking up injured American and coalition forces from combat zones to get them to treatment facilities.

During their last yearlong deployment in 2009, wing Airmen supporting MEDEVAC operations in Afghanistan received credit for more than 300 saves. A 'save' refers to a situation where, without immediate intervention, a person would lose his or her life, a limb or eyesight..

"These crews train hard and are ready to go out and save lives," Macrander said.

In 2005, Airmen from the 920th RQW saved the life of Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell. Luttrell was the lone survivor of an operation involving the greatest loss of life in the Special Forces community since the Vietnam War.

The wing's primary wartime job is combat search and rescue, which involves locating and rescuing service members isolated in combat such as pilots shot down behind enemy lines.

MEDEVAC missions are similar in nature but occur more frequently. Two to four MEDEVAC missions a day or more are the norm.

Wing Airmen have a 50-year legacy of saving lives. During their history, they have rescued nearly 1,500 people in peacetime and combat.

Their mission at Patrick includes serving as the primary rescue force for NASA astronauts before and during lift off and return. They also support local civilian search-and-rescue missions and humanitarian relief efforts.

For more information about the 920th RQW, log onto the wing's website: www.920rqw.afrc.af.mil or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.