Rescue group Airmen wins top survival specialist in Air Force Reserve

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Luke Johnson
  • 943rd Rescue Group
DAVIS MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  In April, Air Force Reserve Command announced the winner of the 2012 Outstanding AFRC Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Specialist Award.

Senior Master Sgt. Howard T. Smith with the 306th Rescue Squadron won the major command level award. The award recognized his accomplishments and contributions to AFRC's SERE program.

Smith has been with the 306th RQS since September of 2006. He is an Active Guard Reserve with the unit serving in a full time status with the same benefits and entitlements as an active duty Airman.

"I love being part of the personnel recovery mission. It is a very noble mission," said Smith.

Smith professionally managed and conducted SERE operations in support of personnel recovery across the full spectrum of military operations as an integral member of a Guardian Angel tactical recovery team. He trained 372 high-risk of isolation personnel.

He has deployed server times with the 943rd Rescue Group to include the Horn of Africa and also most recently in 2012 a deployment to Camp Bastion in Afghanistan.

He also streamlined deployed command and control processes and increased the capability for rescue assets to conduct 163 combat missions, which saved 69 lives.

"I look at my job as working and training with my rescue brothers," said Smith. "The rescue mission is why I'm part of the 306th RQS and that's what keeps me motivated."

Most recently he served as an instructor for the 306th RQS canopy control course, which taught pararescuemen from the 306th RQS on canopy control and how to be accurate in specific landing zones. The course was the largest jumping evolution the squadron had ever undertaken.

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