Skip to main content (Press Enter).
Toggle navigation
Air Force Reserve Command
Air Force Reserve Command
Search
Search AFRC:
Search
Search AFRC:
Search
Home
News
Commentaries
Features
Photos
Art
Video
HQ AFRC News
About Us
Biographies
Innovation
Submit
RPI
Community
Phantom
MMK
Rapid Raptor
Intel Warehouse
ARCNet
ICAM
Knucklebusters
Why It Matters
History
Future
Awards
FAQs
HOPE
Chaplain
Yellow Ribbon
AFRC History
Job Opportunities
Enl Force Development
Fact Sheets
PHAP
SAPR
Profiles in Leadership
Volume II
Brink
Dettmer
Jensen
Daehler
OBrien
Lockheed
Richardson
Proietti
Levy
Rodriguez
Martins
Tsueda
Cason
Rettinger
Smith
Beyers
Volume III
Erredge
Arnholt
Harrington
Smith
Marks
Dodds
Walsh
Carlton
Schmidt
Rodriguez
Hopper
Sliger
Mastro
Wood
Tapia-Cordero
Fuentes
Volume I
Ameen
Cobern
Cunningham
Harris
Kim
Lewis
Robison
Rooney
Schmid
Scobee
Tree
Warren
Volume IV
Barnes
Beveridge
Brinkann
Crider
DellaVolpe
Dyke
Franklin
Giddings
Guderyon
Hodson
Libertz
Light
Okyere
Palomino
Sabric
Schultze
Social Media
Airman & Family
FOIA
Wingman Toolkit
The Force Matters
Units
Units by State
Reserve Recruiting
Contact Us
Home
News
Features
Display
The nuts and bolts of combat search and rescue
By Capt. Ryan Liss, 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
/ Published October 16, 2011
PRINT
|
E-MAIL
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla --
In NASCAR, the drivers who win races get all the glory, while the team behind them fine tuning their cars for optimal performance, sometimes go unnoticed. It's no different in the
920th Rescue Wing
. Behind the pilots is a team that works to ensure its combat search and rescue (CSAR) aircraft perform optimally in a race against the clock to save lives. This team is the 920th Maintenance Group.
Maintenance Airmen are the subject matter experts when it comes to keeping
920th HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters
and HC-130 P/N King refueling aircraft flying. Their expertise is vital when they are deployed supporting overseas operations because every aircraft launched is a life saved.
To see a slideshow of the maintainers mending a battlefield Pave Hawk, click
here
.
Recently, about two dozen maintenance Airmen and three helicopters returned from battle in Afghanistan after a four-month's of around-the-clock flying as part of a year-long deployment to save lives through medical evacuation operations.
Thanks to the tireless operations of the 920th maintainers, more than a 1,000 flights were launched resulting in 505 rescue missions flown, successfully saving 358 lives, while assisting in saving another 287. A 'save' is a situation where, without immediate intervention, a person would lose their life, a limb or eyesight.
Now that the personnel and the equipment have returned home, however, the mission doesn't stop. Because the 920th RQW assists in stateside search and rescue operations, the war-torn choppers have to be services for those responsibilities immediately.
"On average, it takes about a week to a week and a half to get a helo available when it returns from overseas," said Major Aaron Milner, 920th Maintenance Squadron Commander. However, this can vary due to a number of factors, from personnel availability to damage to the helicopter.
While bullets can be lethal, miniscule sand particles are the most damaging. Because of its tiny stature, removing the powdery granules tends to be the greatest challenge maintainers face when reconstituting aircraft.
"Engines are the biggest issue due to the mountainous dessert environment. They fly at a high altitude, and have high contamination due to blown sand. It affects their efficiency." said Master Sgt. Timothy Baxley, HH-60 crew chief.
With a mixture of people working on the CSAR aircraft, continuity is the key to keeping them in the air. Over the past six months, these machines have been worked on by Air Reserve Technicians (ARTs) and
traditional reservists
(TRs) both here and in Afghanistan. They maintain the continuity through a variety of checklists.
Prior to leaving for Afghanistan, the helicopter is inspected and packed up in a C-17 Globemaster III. When it comes back, the reconstitution checklist is cracked open, and the Pave Hawk is again inspected from head to toe. In between, personnel on both sides use computer programs to log updates, keeping everyone informed and leaving out any potential surprises.
"Ninety-nine percent of the stuff we know about it when it gets home, and everything done to it is kept in a log. The system is set up so one maintenance Airmen can pick up where another left off." said Baxley.
Some problems cannot be fixed overseas due to a priority levels, time or lack of equipment. Those open issues get logged and are remedied one-by-one at homestation. A mission equipment listing allows the maintainers to see and prioritize what has to be fixed on-site, and what can wait for a rainy day.
"For CSAR, which is the highest priority level, on-the-spot specialized repairs result in an ongoing high-speed recovery missions." said Technical Sergeant Bradley Doupe, 920th Maintenance Squadron HH-60 Avionics Technician.
Whether home or abroad, it takes a lot of moving parts to get CSAR aircraft off the ground. Wounded personnel in battlefield operations rely on the expertise and effort of the men and women of the 920th MXG. MXG Airmen maintain a humble attitude while they chock up champion results mending aging machines which are put through hulking obstacles.
These things we do that others may live is the attitude that drives their perserverance. For that they deserve a trophy, but instead their glory remains in knowing the weight of their efforts.
For more information about the 920th RQW, log on to the wing's Web site:
www.920rqw.afrc.af.mil
or follow them on
Facebook
or
Twitter
.
Features
AFRC Recruiting teams up with Naismith Basketball HOF
Spouse of the Year eager to help others overcome life's many challenges
From small town to touring internationally with the F-35
AFRC Recruiter builds major relationship with minor league team
Lima Charlie: Yellow Ribbon keeps couples’ communication clear
More
Commentaries
We can choose resiliency
Team building frames security forces sendoff of top enlisted leader
Passing on a few of life’s important lessons
Transitions: Reserve helps Airman find balance she craves
Lessons from failure
More
Social Media
Facebook
Twitter
U.S. Air Force
36WGPA
-17 Jul
Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant and First Lady Deborah Bryant (first row, fourth/fifth from left), AFRC Command Chief Master Sergeant Ericka Kelly (first row, third from right) and distinguished visitors celebrate the Innovative Readiness Training program and their efforts at Camp Kamassa. The camp is Mississippi&
#39;s
largest and only special needs camp for children and adults. The Air Force Reserve led the effort with more than 100
#ReserveCitizenAirmen
working on the project.
U.S. Air Force
36WGPA
-16 Jul
The 2018 Gen. Mark A. Welsh III One Air Force Award nominee for
#AFRC
is from the 26th and 527th Space Aggressor Squadrons, Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. The members of the 26th and 527th SASs achieved mission success as a total force and demonstrated operational readiness and mission accomplishment. Visit
http://www.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1575294/afrc-2018-gen-mark-a-welsh-iii-one-air-force-award-nominee/.
U.S. Air Force
36WGPA
-13 Jul
AF Reserve Hurricane Hunters assist with monsoon research -
http://www.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1573836/air-force-reserve-hurricane-hunters-assist-with-monsoon-research/
via 403d Wing, Air Force Reserve
U.S. Air Force
36WGPA
-12 Jul
#ReserveCitizenAirmen
support SpaceX resupply rocket launch -
http://www.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1568094/reserve-citizen-airmen-support-spacex-resupply-rocket-launch/
via 920th Rescue Wing
U.S. Air Force
36WGPA
-11 Jul
East Central Georgia IRT teams arrive -
#TotalForce"
target="_blank">http://www.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1571419/east-central-georgia-irt-teams-arrive/ via 445th Airlift Wing
#TotalForce<
/a>
U.S. Air Force
36WGPA
-10 Jul
AF Reserve Hurricane Hunters fly Tropical Storms
#Beryl
,
#Chris
-
http://www.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1569821/hurricane-hunters-fly-tropical-storms-beryl-chris/
via 403d Wing, Air Force Reserve
U.S. Air Force
36WGPA
-09 Jul
Congratulations to the award winners!
U.S. Air Force
36WGPA
-09 Jul
Check out the teaser for "A Pilot&
#39;s
Journey." This short film will premiere at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018 in celebration of the
#AFReserve
70th anniversary!
U.S. Air Force
36WGPA
-09 Jul
In the latest issue of Princeton Magazine, the 514th Air Mobility Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst takes you inside their history, the 70-year history of the
#AFReserve
and what the future may hold for the Freedom Wing. Read the story at
http://www.princetonmagazine.com/into-the-blue/.
U.S. Air Force
36WGPA
-06 Jul
For the latest updates on the MAFFS - Air Expeditionary Group mission visit the 302nd Airlift Wing (Air Force Reserve) website at
http://www.302aw.afrc.af.mil/.
U.S. Air Force
36WGPA
-05 Jul
#ICYMI
: Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence flew into Grissom Air Reserve Base for the
#July4th
holiday and were greeted by 434th Air Refueling Wing leadership.
U.S. Air Force
36WGPA
-05 Jul
Elinor Otto, America&
#39;s
longest working "Rosie the Riveter", will be featured on ABC Television Network&
#39;s
To Tell The Truth Sunday, July 8 at 10 p.m. EST. Otto visited March Air Reserve Base in late 2017 when she was honored by Lt. Gen. Maryanne Miller,
#AFRC
Commander, and Gen. Carlton Everhart II, Air Mobility Command Commander, for her service. Read the story at
http://www.march.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1401718/rosie-the-riveter-honored-at-march-arb/.
U.S. Air Force
36WGPA
-04 Jul
Today we, as a nation, celebrate July 4 as our Independence Day! Please have safe and fun holiday and remember all of those served to guarantee our freedoms!
U.S. Air Force
36WGPA
-03 Jul
Maj. Gen. Richard Scobee,
#AFRC
Deputy Commander, being interviewed at the Warner Robins Independence Day Concert.
U.S. Air Force
36WGPA
-03 Jul
Come back at 8:20 P.M. EST to watch Maj. Gen. Richard Scobee, #AFRC Deputy Commander, introduce Hunter Hayes live on Facebook.
U.S. Air Force
36WGPA
-03 Jul
#Reservist
helps brand Air Force Reserve at NBA Finals game -
http://www.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1565016/reservist-helps-brand-air-force-reserve-at-nba-finals-game/
U.S. Air Force
36WGPA
-03 Jul
Tune into 13 WMAZ today at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. for live interviews and updates from the Warner Robins Independence Day Concert!
U.S. Air Force
36WGPA
-03 Jul
Reserve
#C130s
support
#Colorado
firefighting efforts -
http://www.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1566187/reserve-c-130s-support-colorado-firefighting-efforts/
via 302nd Airlift Wing (Air Force Reserve)
U.S. Air Force
@
-09 Jan
RT
@AETCommand
: Check out how, for the first time, the
@USAFReserve
military training instructors at Basic Military Training led BMT total…
U.S. Air Force
@
-08 Jan
#AFRC
safety award recognizes excellence -
https://t.co/7VNZC8xuVg
via
@446AW
https://t.co/Rg1600ltqY
U.S. Air Force
@
-08 Jan
No off season:
@53rdWRS
(
#HurricaneHunters
) fly winter storms too -
https://t.co/VzMkkBVXBN
via
@403rdWing
https://t.co/nz0xeagS4M
U.S. Air Force
@
-08 Jan
#AlwaysThere
https://t.co/c9r4aD0kKa
U.S. Air Force
@
-07 Jan
#AFRC
is now on the
@usairforce
Connect App! Lt. Gen. Richard Scobee, Air Force Reserve Command Commander, and his…
https://t.co/6FHU2CQP0H
U.S. Air Force
@
-04 Jan
Family Tradition -
https://t.co/5E8V3uVdHb
via
@307BombWing
https://t.co/GdMxJYSFAQ
U.S. Air Force
@
-03 Jan
#AFRC
@DoDYRRP
celebrates 10th anniversary -
https://t.co/fmjjYAOp92
https://t.co/N8JncRqKwk
U.S. Air Force
@
-03 Jan
RT
@10th_Air_Force
: Our 10th Air Force
#ReserveCitizenAirmen
operate in the
#CyberSpace
domain ensuring our ability to operate!
#AlwaysTher
…
U.S. Air Force
@
-01 Jan
Happy New Year from the Air Force Reserve!
https://t.co/JQ6NBPUHVz
U.S. Air Force
@
-27 Dec
The deadline to submit your civilian employer for the ESGR
#SecDefFreedomAward
is almost here. Submit by Dec. 31 at…
https://t.co/4Ll0fTtDp9
U.S. Air Force
@
-26 Dec
The
#BlendedRetirement
System enrollment deadline is approaching soon. You can go to
https://t.co/tZfONNNuvj
to com…
https://t.co/KRdbNah1zm
U.S. Air Force
@
-25 Dec
Merry Christmas and Seasons Greetings from the Air Force Reserve!
https://t.co/HPhv2GP861
U.S. Air Force
@
-24 Dec
The Air Force Reserve Command would like to wish everyone fun-filled Happy Holidays. Be safe, have fun and see you…
https://t.co/6gCjWBc0DX
U.S. Air Force
@
-22 Dec
#ICYMI
last weekend, check out this highlights video from the Air Force Reserve
@CelebrationBowl
https://t.co/pKwD1kifS5
U.S. Air Force
@
-21 Dec
#ICYMI
:
#ReserveCitizenAirmen
Col. Alan Wieman and his family were joined in their home by
@SteveDoocy
of…
https://t.co/mDUECXE7oH
U.S. Air Force
@
-21 Dec
New medical process gives reservists more time for training -
https://t.co/N8qnfXnvcR
via
@302AirliftWing
https://t.co/ICUcYUQpEm
U.S. Air Force
@
-21 Dec
RT
@926thWing
: Every Reservist is a Recruiter! The
#Get1Now
Program is a great way for Reservists to keep the
@USAFReserve
strong by recom…
U.S. Air Force
@
-20 Dec
Check out the
#ReserveCitizenAirmen
in Profiles in Leadership IV on our
@YouTube
channel: https://t.co/xwdC7cMBsJ.…
https://t.co/W5KJTjrwCS
U.S. Air Force
@
-20 Dec
RT
@CelebrationBowl
: What an honor it was to have the
@AirForceReserve
back as a title sponsor this year! Check out these photos as U.S. Ai…
U.S. Air Force
@
-19 Dec
433rd TRS graduates four Reserve MTI-led flights, honors exceptional Citizen Airmen -
https://t.co/w02vNLzkdA
https://t.co/ZcXbTevI4d
Air Force Social Media Guide (PDF)
USAF Social Media Sites