920th Rescue Wing recognized for AFRC Command Post of the Year

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Natasha Dowridge
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing Command Post were recognized as the 2014 Air Force Command Medium Unit Command Post of the Year.

Awarded as an outstanding unit within AFRC, the honor is a culmination of the many accomplishments made throughout the year by the command post Reservists tasked with the dissemination of information to not only the wing, but the whole base at times.

The 10-person shop beat out nine medium-size command posts for the award. This is the first time the 920th Command Post has been recognized by AFRC.

"This was a team effort and I couldn't be more proud of my people," said Maj. Christopher Schmidt, 920th RQW Command Post deputy officer in charge. "Each and every team member contributed to this award with their hard work and professionalism and each should be proud of this accomplishment."

Serving as the brain of the unit, the command post is charged with distributing notifications, communicating messages to leadership and scheduling flights. They are also responsible for implementing action plans and orders for such things as aircraft emergencies, civil disasters and high-priority activities that could affect national security.

In 2008, the 920th RQW and host wing 45th Space Wing command posts merged into a single joint operation. Controllers from both organizations took additional training to better understand each other's tasks and distinct requirements.

This proved to be essential as 920th RQW Reservists continue the base command post operations during their monthly unit training assembly.

"Many of our programs are combined," said Schmidt. "It takes a good working relationship for both sides to succeed. We each rely on one another on a daily basis."

The 920th RQW trains and equips 1,800 Airmen to search for, locate and recover U.S. Armed Forces and coalition personnel during military operations. Air Force rescue is the only DoD entity specifically organized, trained and equipped to conduct personnel recovery operations into hostile or denied areas as a primary mission.