Congressional staffers experience a taste of rescue

Senior Airman Kristopher Tomes, 920th Rescue Wing pararescueman suits up Daniel Leiva, a legal assistant for Congressman John Boehner. Leiva was one of several congressional staffers that traveled to Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., for a first-hand look at the 920th‘s rescue mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Peter Dean)

Congressional staffers experience a taste of rescue

Col. Jeffrey Macrander, 920th Rescue Wing commander shows a HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopter to congressional staffers who recently visited Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. The 920th RQW is a special operations wing and home to elite Guardian Angel Airmen who are among the most highly trained emergency trauma specialists in the U.S. military, and the only military personnel who are trained and equipped to conduct combat rescue for all of the other branches of the military. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Peter Dean)

Congressional staffers experience a taste of rescue

Published Oct. 13, 2012
920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The 920th Rescue Wing recently hosted a congressional staffer's visit that included numerous congressional staffers that traveled here from Washington DC for a first-hand look at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., and its mission.

While with the 920th RQW, Wing Commander Col. Jeffrey Macrander greeted the DV's and narrated an in depth overview of the wing, explaining in detail the mission that the 920th RQW is tasked with.

The 920th RQW is an Air Force Reserve combat search and rescue unit, which performs more than 20 percent of the Air Force's combat search and rescue mission (CSAR). The Wing is comprised of 1,800 Airmen and flies both fixed and rotor wing aircraft: the HC-130P/N extended-range Hercules and the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter.

"Everything at the 920th, from the people to the equipment is geared to saving lives," said Macrander. "We have part time folks coming out, saving lives, it's awesome."

Following the commanders brief, the DVs were escorted to a hangar where Pararescuemen and Aircrew Flight Equipment Airmen displayed and explained the functions of equipment use during combat and humanitarian rescues. Also present were Airmen from the 920th Maintenance Group who had staged a HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopter for the staffers to inspect.

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