Air Force reign in Cocoa Beach forecast

  • Published
  • By By Capt. Cathleen Snow
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  With a quiet hurricane season coming to an end in the sunshine state, one major blast is being predicted and it's happening this week through Halloween.

The City of Orlando, Known as America's playground and the endless summer sanctuary that is Cocoa Beach, have become staging spots for Air Force Week , a culmination of recruiting magnificence that happens only twice a year at select locations. The first was in New York City earlier this year.

More important than attracting new blood, top Air Force leadership are here honoring the accomplishments and sacrifices of all American Airmen.

The Undersecretary of the Air Force, Ms. Erin Conaton, demonstrated this top priority in the opening ceremonies Tuesday, Oct. 26 at the Cocoa Beach Pier by recognizing several hometown heroes from nearby Patrick Air Force Base  . All hail from Florida and have several deployments under their uniform belt.

Among them was Master Sgt. Shane Smith, a combat search and rescue reservists with the 920th Rescue Wing, who was there in uniform even though he's still officially on reconstitution leave from his latest deployment that ended less than a week ago to the Horn of Africa as an HC-130P/N King loadmaster.

"...I just would like to say thanks," said Undersecretary Conaton. She added, "We really appreciate receiving the support we receive from the community."

With well over 35,000 Airmen currently deployed across the globe in support of contingency operations, the theme of this Air Force Week is Honoring Hometown Heroes.

The Air Force is pulling out all of the stops with high-speed fly bys over Orlando theme parks, aircraft static displays, media flights, free concerts, barbecues, aerial demonstrations, school and hospital visits, and it all ends a free air show over Cocoa Beach on the weekend.

The Air Force Reserve Command's 920th Rescue Wing performed a three-aircraft flyover for the grand opening. Two 920th HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters  demonstrated taking a sip from two long fuel hoses deployed from the back of the HC-130 King long-range refueling aircraft as it slowed to maintain the formation all the way up the beach.

Also during the week, Rescue Wing Airmen will demonstrate their water rescue techniques as they fly their Pave Hawk helicopters and combat-search-and-rescue King's, front and center, during several more events throughout the week of Air Force Week.

To help gain momentum for the weeklong celebration, members of the media were invited to attend a media day at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, approximately 7 miles north of Cocoa Beach, during which they toured 45th Space Wing launch pads, rockets and other intriguing space assets. Finally the day ended with media flights around CCAFS and its neighbor, Kennedy Space Center, where they flew past Space Shuttle Discovery as it prepares for launch in a few days, November 1.

The ground and aerial tour of the space shuttle, not only showcase the third to the last manned space flight launch, but the support both the 45th and 920th give continually for NASA space exploration.

The 920th Airmen specifically are charged as guardians of the astronauts and have been tasked with rescuing them if their were a Mode 1 through 8 contingency, 8 being the worst case scenario, a bail out of the shuttle over the ocean upon lift off.

To showcase their space support and their mission of combat search and rescue, the 920th will have a display set up in Air Force Village at the Cocoa Beach Pier all week where the community can meet a 920th Hometown Hero or learn how to become a pararescuman for a day. 

To learn more about these iconic events, which will surely raise the mercury throughout Central Florida, beyond magic-kingdom imagination, go to www.airforceweek.af.mil or www.facebook.com/airforceweek.

For more information on the 920th RQW and the Cocoa Beach Air Show, contact the 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs Office at (321) 494-0535/6 or log onto: Facebook/920th Rescue Wing (Government Organization).