Pinning on the medal

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.- Col. Jeffrey Macrander, 920th Wing Commander, pins pararescueman Senior Master Sgt. Michael Ziegler with a Meritorious Service Medal wtih a Oak Leaf Cluster at the Commander's Call Dec. 3. Five other Rescue Reservists were awarded at the Commander's Call. The 920th Rescue Wing is the only reserve combat search and rescue unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. (U.S Air Force photo/Capt. Ryan Liss)

Awarded

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.- Senior Master Sgts. Odean Lebahn, Michael Ziegler and Maj. Margaret Poole stand before their fellow Airmen after being awarded medals by the wing commander, Col. Jeffrey Macrander. The 920th Rescue Wing trains and equips over 1,700 Airmen to locate and recover U.S. Armed Forces personnel during military operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Ryan Liss)

Rescue wing commander holds first commander's call

Published Dec. 4, 2011
By Senior Airman Natasha Dowridge
920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Rescue Wing Airmen gathered together in the Base Theater here for a 920th Rescue Wing Commander's Call Dec. 3, during their drill training weekend.

Col. Jeffrey Macrander, commander, gave words of encouragement and updated wing members, and a few family members, who joined in, on matters of concern and wing events and activities during the event.

Included was a video message from the Air Force Reserve Commander, Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner, where he discussed the budget cuts and their affect on the men and women of the Air Force Reserve. He also commended the efforts of 920th RQW deployed Reservists.

"They go into the hornets' nest of combat, pull out the injured and get them to safety without getting stung," said Stenner. "Thank you for your commitment to excellence and your service to our nation's Air Force Reserve, your dedication has not gone unnoticed."

Further, the colonel gave out awards and discussed the upcoming wing Compliance Inspection in April and the Operational Readiness Inspection in 2013.

Additionally, he commended Rescue Wing Airmen on their diligence and dedication to combat search and rescue.

"It's so easy for me to go out into the local community and talk about what you do," said Macrander. "They really love what the 920th Rescue Wing is doing for all of the Air Force."

After the commander's call, Airmen were dismissed for the for the family holiday picnic at Chevron Park.

The following personnel received the following awards and recognition:

Col. Robert Ament, vice wing commander, 920th Rescue Wing - Defense Superior Service Medal
Maj. Margaret Poole, nurse, Aeromedical Staging Squadron - Meritorious Service Medal
Senior Master Sgt. Odean Lebahn, patrick command post superintendent, 920th Rescue Wing - Meritorious Service Medal 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
Senior Master Sgt. Michael Ziegler, pararescueman, 308th Rescue Squadron - Meritorious Service Medal 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
Tech. Sgt. Andrew Hepler, electronic countermeasures, 920th Maintenance Squadron - 3rd Quarter Non-Commissioned Officer of the Quarter
Staff Sgt. Dan Warren, pararescueman, 308th Rescue Squadron - Letter of Appreciation for his most recent Portraits of Courage nomination.

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