Group hug

Approximately 60 Reserve Airman from the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. here, were greeted by family members upon returning home June 4th from a deployment that took them to the Horn of Africa in support of ongoing search-and-rescue, and humanitarian relief efforts there. In addition to the pilots and aircrew Airmen, the group of Airmen consisted of maintenance Airmen who kept the nearly 50-year-old aircraft flying as well as other support personnel who contributed vital support to the operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)

Back from Africa

Approximately 60 Reserve Airman from the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., returned back home June 4th from a deployment that took them to the Horn of Africa in support of ongoing search-and-rescue and humanitarian relief efforts there. In addition to the pilots and aircrew Airmen, the group of Airmen consisted of maintenance Airmen who kept the nearly 50-year-old aircraft flying, as well as other support personnel who contributed vital skills necessary to the operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)

Lot full

Approximately 60 Reserve Airman from the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., returned back home June 4th from a deployment that took them to the Horn of Africa in support of ongoing search-and-rescue and humanitarian relief efforts there. Airman deployed in support of the Combined-Joint-Task-Force-Horn of Africa with two of the wing?s HC-130P/N King aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)

You were missed

Approximately 60 Reserve Airman from the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. here, were greeted by family members upon their return home June 4th from a deployment that took them to the Horn of Africa in support of ongoing search-and-rescue, and humanitarian relief efforts there. The wing currently has 115 deployed Airmen supporting various ongoing deployments. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)

Rescue Wing Airmen return from Horn of Africa deployment

Published June 4, 2012
By Capt. Cathleen Snow
920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Approximately 60 Reserve Airman from the 920th Rescue Wing here returned home June 4th from a deployment that took them to the Horn of Africa in support of ongoing search-and-rescue, and humanitarian relief efforts there.

Airman deployed in support of the Combined-Joint-Task-Force-Horn of Africa with two of the wing's HC-130P/N King aircraft.

The CJTF-HOA areas of responsibility include the countries of Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti and Seychelles. The CJTF-HOA area of interest (AOI) includes Yemen, Tanzania, Mauritius, Madagascar, Mozambique, Burundi, Rwanda, Comoros, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

The HC-130 is a tanker aircraft capable of refueling search-and-rescue helicopters. It also serves as a search-and-rescue and jump platform for pararescue Airmen to rescue victims in remote locations. It is the only dedicated fixed-wing combat search and rescue platform in the Air Force inventory and is piloted by a crew of 6-7 Reserve Airmen.

In addition to the pilots and aircrew Airmen, the group of Airmen consisted of maintenance Airmen who kept the nearly 50-year-old aircraft flying, as well as other support personnel who contributed vital support to the operations.

"We were on call 24/7 during the entire 120 days of the deployment," said Maj. Casey Sreenan, HC-130 King pilot. "Due to the high-posture alert," he said.

The deployment comes as one of many for Rescue Wing Airmen. The wing currently has 115 deployed Airmen supporting various other ongoing overseas operations.

"Supporting the Horn of Africa region has been an ongoing effort for us," said Sreenan. "Our responsibility there will continue to expand due to increased operations tempo."

Rescue Wing Airmen are the only members of the DoD specifically organized, trained and equipped to conduct personnel recovery operations in hostile or denied areas as a primary mission.

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.