Flights, pararescuemen battle for hearts of civic leaders

  • Published
  • By Airman First Class Natasha Dowridge
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Mission successes by Reserve Airmen here are not solo accomplishments - those who support them can share in the accolades received as well. It is through community support that Airmen young and old complete boot camp, train for the mission and, consequently, have a successful mission when deployed. The local civic leader supporters help make that possible for the Rescue Reservists of the 920th Rescue Wing here.

Civic leaders, which consist of business owners to city commissioners, from the local area, joined Rescue Wing Airmen on a tour of the 920th RQW. The tour was a means to demonstrate to the civic leaders what their reservist employees do on an average day of work and how that correlates to a deployment.

"The orientation by Colonel Dunn [920th Rescue Wing Commander] and staff was exceptional and provided me with an in-depth view of what the 920th RQW does," said Ms. Nancy Snyder, Senior Sales Manager at the Hilton Melbourne Beach Oceanfront.

However, learning about what reservists do through power point, videos and lectures was just the beginning of the informative day for the civic leaders. They had the opportunity to use night vision goggles and had a weapons demonstration by the combat arms training and maintenance instructor, Staff Sgt. Charity Orriss, 308th Rescue Squadron.

Lectures and videos showed the missions of the 920th Rescue Wing, but it was time for the guests to gear up and jump onto either an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter or HC-130P/N King aircraft for a familiarization flight. Most of these local business owners see the combat helicopters and aircraft daily during training exercises - this part of the tour allowed them to get up close and personal with the crew and pilots of the different aircraft.

For Ms. Snyder, the ride was her most memorable part of the tour.

The flights went north up the coast and around the shuttle launch pad where the last space shuttle, Atlantis, is parked. It is scheduled to launch next month with the 920th RQW, as usual, guardians of the astronauts.

"It was a once in a lifetime helicopter ride," said Ms. Snyder. "I rode the skirts of the Brevard County Coast and had a phenomenal view of the ocean and space center."

The HC-130 King and HH-60G Pave Hawk are combat search and rescue outfitted. They both also perform combatant and noncombatant evacuations, medical evacuations, disaster response, humanitarian assistance and NASA space flight support.

Although Ms. Snyder's first ride on a government aircraft was her most enjoyable moment of the tour, Ms. Deborah Wright's, owner of The Green Room Café in Cocoa Beach, said hers was the pararescueman (PJ) demonstration.

"Seeing the equipment that pararescuemen have to wear in different elements was fascinating. I couldn't imagine wearing all that gear, being in the small space of the helicopter and still being able to save a life," said Ms. Wright, who also flew on the helicopter. "I was impressed."

Senior Airmen Kristopher Tomes and Tim Kline, Air Force Reserve pararescuemen, were on hand to demonstrate the missions of the PJs and the tools used to make them successful. They showed off the gear that must be worn while swimming, hiking, skiing and jumping out of aircraft. Along with the gear, were the numerous uniforms the PJs wear in different environments.

It's amazing to know that every mission could be life threatening for the PJs and to have seen all the equipment that they must carry, jump and swim with was a learning experience, said Ms. Wright.

"To sum it up - it's all to save a life of a perfect stranger," Ms. Wright exclaimed.

The civic leaders concluded their trip with a lunch at the dining facility with Reservists from the 920th RQW, including  Col. Dunn and Colonel Robert Ament,  Vice Wing Commander of the 920th.

However, the flights and PJ demonstrations were highlights for the civic leaders, including Ms. Snyder and Wright's.

"It was a learning experience beyond belief," said Ms. Wright.

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.