New vice commander thrilled to be back

  • Published
  • By Captain Ryan Liss
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  When a new commander joins a unit, there is usually time for adjustment. For Col. Robert Ament, vice wing commander at the 920th Rescue Wing here, he doesn't get much time.

With a new wing commander set to come in the ensuing months, Colonel Ament will be relied upon to efficiently transition more than 1,300 Reservists, including the members of the 943rd Rescue Group in Arizona and 304th Rescue Squadron in Portland, to the standards the new commander will have. Thankfully, Colonel Ament's experience should allow for a seamless move for all.

Colonel Ament is no stranger to Patrick AFB, or the 920th RQW. A former active duty officer for seven years, he transitioned to the Reserve in 1991, when he joined the 301st Rescue Squadron flying HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters. He held multiple positions in the 301st, before becoming the Florida emergency preparedness liaison under the Air Force National Security and Emergency Preparedness Division of 1st Air Force in 2008.

Following that assignment, Colonel Ament joined U.S. Southern Command as the director of staff of the partnering division, and currently holds the position as division chief reporting to senior central command leadership at U.S. Central Command.

Colonel Ament also brings a wealth of deployment experience from his 27 years in the Air Force, having participated in Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Provide Comfort, Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and, most recently, Operation Unified Response in Haiti.

With more than 30 years as a practicing emergency medical technician (EMT), and experience as an HH-60G pilot, Colonel Ament is very familiar with the way of life for many of our Reserve personnel, and recognizes all the different cogs that keep the 920th running like a well-oiled machine.

"I believe everyone who is in the 920RQW is an integral part of the team," he said.

As deployments continue to rise, and members of the wing go out the door constantly, Colonel Ament wants to ensure that each member is given the tools and opportunities to succeed, despite functioning in a budget-constrained mindset. He believes we all work together to get the job done, and he feels his objective is to help the members successfully complete their mission.

One of his first missions though, is to, help acclimate the new wing commander to the mission the 920th Rescue Wing represents. Colonel Ament sees this as a great opportunity for everyone in the 920th, and is looking forward to the challenge.

"We will survive as a wing because of the personality of the wing commander. Personality-driven leadership is something this wing has always had," he said.

Leadership, mentorship, transition assistance and deployments are just a few of the obstacles Colonel Ament will face in his role as vice commander. Despite that, he is more than ready for what lies ahead.

"I would trade any job I had in the Air Force for this job, today."

For more information on the 920th RQW, please check out their website and become a fan of them on Facebook and Twitter.