Rescue group earns 2011 outstanding unit award

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Luke Johnson
  • 943rd Rescue Group Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The 943rd Rescue Group was recently awarded the 2011 Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for performance of maintained combat readiness and the capability to perform short notice wartime and global humanitarian missions from July 31, 2009 to July 30, 2011.

"This is due solely to the dedication, professionalism and hard work of each and every member in this outstanding rescue group," said Col. Harold Maxwell, 943rd Rescue Group commander. "Currently, we have unit members deployed into harm's way performing impeccably to ensure that injured Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Sailors make it back home to their loved ones, and we take our mission very seriously."

Colonel Maxwell added that even though the mission is dangerous and demanding he is always amazed Airmen within 943rd RQG are always willing and ready serve whenever there is a need to save lives.

"We've got Airmen within the group that are eager to deploy into harm's way to save lives, and that really says something about the caliber of Airmen that we've got serving in this unit," said Maxwell.

According the award citation, the 943rd RQG directly and consistently supported war efforts through 720 combat missions totaling 17,280 hours, resulting in 20 plus high risk combat missions, 372 lives saved and 540 assisted saves.

The 943rd RQG is a geographically separated unit from the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. The group's mission is to train and equip personnel to achieve and maintain the capability to perform day or night combat search and rescues missions and civil search and rescue missions, such as disaster relief operations.

The 943rd RQG has also performed rescue missions within the surrounding Tucson, Ariz. area as well.

"Last year, the Tucson community got to witness the professionalism of our Airmen when we performed a rescue and recovery mission of a crashed Pima County Sheriff helicopter that was featured on all the local TV channels," said Col. Maxwell. "We take pride that we can provide a valuable service to our local community where many of our Reserve Airmen live and work."

The group utilizes the Guardian Angel weapons system and the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter to perform day or night rescue missions anytime and anywhere they are called to serve.

The rescue group's motto is "So That Others May Live."

"This is the noblest mission in the U.S. Air Force," said Maxwell. "We have an extraordinary group of Airmen that have performed flawlessly to make the 943rd RQG the premier combat search and rescue group within the entire U.S. Air Force."

For more information on the 920th RQW, visit their website, Facebook and Twitter.