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Not easy being green

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Master Sgt. German Jaramillo, a reservist at the 920th Rescue Wing here, gets a fond farewell from his fellow aircrew members after returning from his final flight with the wing. After nearly 18 years of service in the Air Force, Sergeant Jaramillo is leaving military life to attend the FBI Academy at Quantico, Va. Known as a "fini flight," the Air Force tradition of dousing an Airman, then presenting him or her a bottle of champagne upon their safe return from their last flight, dates back to the Vietnam War, when pilots received a similar treatment after completing their 100th combat mission, signifying the end of their tours there. The water used to soak Sergeant Jaramillo was mixed with sea dye, which is used during search-and-rescue missions to mark the location of people floating in the ocean. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Paul Flipse)
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Not easy being green

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Master Sgt. German Jaramillo, a reservist at the 920th Rescue Wing here, gets a fond farewell from his fellow aircrew members after returning from his final flight with the wing. After nearly 18 years of service in the Air Force, Sergeant Jaramillo is leaving military life to attend the FBI Academy at Quantico, Va. Known as a "fini flight," the Air Force tradition of dousing an Airman, then presenting him or her a bottle of champagne upon their safe return from their last flight, dates back to the Vietnam War, when pilots received a similar treatment after completing their 100th combat mission, signifying the end of their tours there. The water used to soak Sergeant Jaramillo was mixed with sea dye, which is used during search-and-rescue missions to mark the location of people floating in the ocean. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Paul Flipse)
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Red letter day

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Master Sgt. German Jaramillo, a reservist at the 920th Rescue Wing here, gets a fond farewell from his fellow aircrew members after returning from his final flight with the wing. After nearly 18 years of service in the Air Force, Sergeant Jaramillo is leaving military life to attend the FBI Academy at Quantico, Va. Known as a "fini flight," the Air Force tradition of dousing an Airman, then presenting him or her a bottle of champagne upon their safe return from their last flight, dates back to the Vietnam War, when pilots received a similar treatment after completing their 100th combat mission, signifying the end of their tours there. The water used to soak Sergeant Jaramillo was mixed with sea dye, which is used during search-and-rescue missions to mark the location of people floating in the ocean. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Paul Flipse)
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Red letter day

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Master Sgt. German Jaramillo, a reservist at the 920th Rescue Wing here, gets a fond farewell from his fellow aircrew members after returning from his final flight with the wing. After nearly 18 years of service in the Air Force, Sergeant Jaramillo is leaving military life to attend the FBI Academy at Quantico, Va. Known as a "fini flight," the Air Force tradition of dousing an Airman, then presenting him or her a bottle of champagne upon their safe return from their last flight, dates back to the Vietnam War, when pilots received a similar treatment after completing their 100th combat mission, signifying the end of their tours there. The water used to soak Sergeant Jaramillo was mixed with sea dye, which is used during search-and-rescue missions to mark the location of people floating in the ocean. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Paul Flipse)
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Red letter day

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Master Sgt. German Jaramillo, a reservist at the 920th Rescue Wing here, gets a fond farewell from his fellow aircrew members after returning from his final flight with the wing. After nearly 18 years of service in the Air Force, Sergeant Jaramillo is leaving military life to attend the FBI Academy at Quantico, Va. Known as a "fini flight," the Air Force tradition of dousing an Airman, then presenting him or her a bottle of champagne upon their safe return from their last flight, dates back to the Vietnam War, when pilots received a similar treatment after completing their 100th combat mission, signifying the end of their tours there. The water used to soak Sergeant Jaramillo was mixed with sea dye, which is used during search-and-rescue missions to mark the location of people floating in the ocean. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Paul Flipse)
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Cast of character

Senior Airman Diane Lopes, a reservist with the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., displays her Air Force pride while rehabilitating from a rocket attack. The security forces specialist was wounded Sept. 21 at Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq just four weeks after being deployed there. The cast on her left leg protects the broken tibia and fibula beneath, a result of shrapnel from the blast. She said she put the Air Force logo on her cast because of the many Soldiers and Marines there with her at Walter Reed. "I had to represent," she said. (Courtesy photo)
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Tough enough

Reserve Airman Diane Lopes, a security forces specialist with the 920th Rescue Wing, was deployed to Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq only four weeks before being wounded in a rocket attack. Now recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Md., the Tampa resident joined the 920th two years ago and has no plans to leave. The attack, she said, won't chase her away. "It's not going to keep me from doing this," she said of her job as a reservist. (Courtesy photo)
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Airman receives Purple Heart bedside

Air Force Reservist Senior Airman Diane Lopes (center) poses with Chief of the Air Force Reserve Command, Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley (right of Airman Lopes) and 920th Rescue Wing senior leadership, after receiving the Purple Heart bedside. General Bradley presented the medal Sept. 28 to Airman Lopes in her hospital room at Walter Reed Army Medical Facility in Maryland. Airman Lopes is a security forces apprentice with the 920th RQW, Patrick AFB, Fla. She is in good condition and on the road to recovery despite surviving a mortar attack a week ago at Kirkuk AB, Iraq. She and her fellow 920th RQW security forces comrades were in Iraq less than a month when Airman Lopes was struck by enemy shrapnel in the right arm and left leg while walking on base after a mortar attack. She was off duty at the time. Officials say her prognosis is good, but she has a lot of physical therapy ahead of her. (U.S. Army Photo/Winston S. Wilson)
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Airman receives Purple Heart bedside

Air Force Reservist Senior Airman Diane Lopes, a security forces apprentice with the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. receives the Purple Heart Sept. 28 from the Chief of Air Force Reserve Command, Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley bedside at Walter Reed Army Medical Facility in Maryland. Airman Lopes is in good condition and on the road to recovery despite surviving a mortar attack a week ago. She and her fellow 920th RQW security forces comrades were in Iraq less than a month when Airman Lopes was struck by enemy shrapnel in the right arm and left leg while walking on base after a mortar attack. She was off duty at the time. She has endured several surgies for her injuries, but according to officials, her prognosis is good. (U.S. Army Photo/Winston S. Wilson)
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Katrina relief awards

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Thirty-two Air Force Reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing were awarded the Air Medal for their outstanding performance during Hurricane Katrina rescue operations at a ceremony held in the base theater here today. The Air Medal is awarded to servicemembers who have distinguished themselves by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Awards recognize single acts of merit, heroism or meritorious service. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Paul Flipse)
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Katrina relief

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Thirty-two Air Force Reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing were awarded the Air Medal for their outstanding performance during Hurricane Katrina rescue operations at a ceremony held in the base theater here today. The Air Medal is awarded to servicemembers who have distinguished themselves by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Awards recognize single acts of merit, heroism or meritorious service. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Paul Flipse) "We train to be ready at a moment's notice," said Master Sgt. Carlos Gonzalez, medal recipient and flight engineer with the 301st Rescue Squadron. "Being able to help was its own reward. It's what we live for," he said. Within 34 hours of Hurricane Katrina's landfall, crews from the 920th RQW deployed to the Gulf Coast region and were the first Air Force responders on the scene. Once in place, the unit's rescue professionals sustained 21 days of around-the-clock operations involving 200 wing personnel. The 920th RQW was credited with saving 1,043 lives in the aftermath of the storm. In one day alone, September 1, 920th crewmembers rescued 475 people. Notable past recipients of the Air Medal include aerial legends Henry "Hap" Arnold, Buzz Aldrin, Jimmy Doolittle and Chuck Yeager. While the awardees may not consider themselves aerial legends, they are truly heroes, according to wing commander, Col. Steven Kirkpatrick. "The men and women of the 920th are search and rescue's finest," he said. "This medal acknowledges that. And today, so do we."
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Reservists train for deployment

Air Force Reserve security forces specialists Senior Airmen Diane Lopes (left) and Bert Benton (right) of the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., receive instruction on maneuvering all-terrain vehicles to prepare for their upcoming deployment to Kirkuk, Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Maria Eames)
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RESERVE AIRMAN SALUTED AT DEVIL RAYS GAME

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Tech. Sgt. James Dock, a recruiter with the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., was one of seven servicemembers featured during the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' Military Appreciation Day, held at Tropicana Field here July 15. All five branches of the military were represented, and honorees were treated to seats in a luxury box to watch the Rays play the New York Yankees. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Paul Flipse)
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DEVIL RAYS, FANS HONOR SERVICEMEMBERS

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Tech. Sgt. James Dock, a recruiter with the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., was one of seven servicemembers featured during the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' Military Appreciation Day, held at Tropicana Field here July 15. All five branches of the military were represented, and honorees were treated to seats in a luxury box to watch the Rays play the New York Yankees. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Paul Flipse)
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Squeaky Clean

Air Force Reservist, Tech. Sgt. Russ Morris, a crew chief with the 920th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, takes a moment to clean the windows of an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter after performing maintenance on the aircraft.
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Training mission results in life-saving rescue

Staff Sgt. Kacee Holmes (left) and Master Sgt. Chris Seinkner, Air Force Reserve pararescuemen with the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., were preparing for a training mission when they got called out on a real life-saving mission that resulted in rescuing a 66-year-old man from the Atlantic Ocean June 28.
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Mission partners "reel" winners

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE - A crew of Team Patrick mission partners reeled in the largest catch in the Dolphin Class propelling them to 1st place status during the Central Florida Offshore Anglers Tournament held June 23rd off of Port Canaveral, Fla. They won with a weight of 44.6 lbs during the contest. Pictured left to right the Crew of the "Brassy Hooker" - Master Sgt. Tim Baxley, 920th Rescue Wing; Tech. Sgt. Brad Spalding (Captain), DDMS; Master Sgt. Steve Richmond, 920th Rescue Wing; and Mr. John "Big White" Starkey, 45th Services Squadron. According to Sergeant Spalding, prior to the contest, his 13-year-old fishing enthusiast daughter, Ashley, kissed the Black Bart "Tuna Candy" lure they used. She bought the lure with her winnings from a tournament two weeks prior for taking 2nd place in the Junior Snapper division with an 8.4 lb Red Snapper. She was visiting her grandparents in Indiana on the day of the tournament and was not happy she was absent for their winning catch, but prior to leaving said, "Put it in the spread!"
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EXERCISING PATIENTS

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Reservists from the 943rd Rescue Group, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., and the 304th Rescue Squadron, Portlant IAP, Ore., transfer mock casualties from their HH-60G Pave Hawk to a waiting C-130. The pararescue units teamed up for Patriot Angel, a Combat Search and Rescue exercise held here June 13 - 21. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Paul Flipse)
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ESGR members enjoy the view from an HC-130 King.

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Members of the ESGR look out at Cape Canaveral during a flight on an HC-130 with Employers of Air Force Reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing.
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An HC-130 Loadmaster prepares Employers for takeoff

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - An HC-130 Loadmaster prepares for takeoff while Employers of Air Force Reservsits from the 920th Rescue Wing look on.
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