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New RED HORSE unit heads for starting gate

  • Published
  • By Maj. Bill Walsh
  • 315th Public Affairs
CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Airmen in the 315th Civil Engineer Squadron now have authority to stand up the Air Force Reserve's newest RED HORSE squadron.

"This is a total force initiative," said Lt. Col. Cindy Lundhagen, who will serve as deputy commander of the 560th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron.

The 560th RDS will be made up of 209 reservists. They will serve as a mobile civil engineering response force and associate with Airmen with the same unit type codes in the host 437th Airlift Wing

"Our people have special capability training and can deploy rapidly when needed," said Colonel Lundhagen. "We can do everything from build taxiways to drilling wells."

The new squadron is one of two new units the Air Force Reserve will be standing up. The other will be based at Seymour-Johnson AFB, N.C.

The Air Force and Air Force Reserve have big plans for the two new RED HORSE units. At Charleston the plan is to build a new civil engineering complex for joint use with active-duty members.

"The plan is to have a new facility built and ready for fiscal year 11 or 12," Colonel Lundhagen said.

For now the squadron will work out of its current location in Building 652 to support the Air Force's RED HORSE needs around the world.

The 560th RDS will hold an official stand-up ceremony in early 2009. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)