By: Capt. Cathleen Snow
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When a rocket “goes”, so do Air Force Reserve Rescuers
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, FL — Every time a rocket pierces through the sky into space from Cape Canaveral’s spaceport, Air Force Reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing here are on the go to support it.
Mounted aboard a Herculean Delta IV rocket, the new national weather satellite took off Saturday, June 27 at 6:51 p.m. EDT after a loading its fuel during a severe storm. Air Force Reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing here weathered the storm while patrolling for public safety in two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters — warning any mariners from slipping into the danger zone.
Winds gusting at 26 knots along with nearby lightning strikes were reported nearby. Ultimately, the storm cleared in time for United Launch Alliance rocket to part the skies with a fiery blast. Rescue Reservists remained airborne close by to ensure safety on the Eastern Range off Florida’s Space Coast.
The satellites provide a primary means of tracking tropical systems, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who owns and operates them. The spacecraft will also provide most of the satellite images seen throughout the nation on television weathercasts.
“The 920th’s space support mission showcases why the 920th Rescue Wing is the world’s premiere rescue unit,” said Wing Commander, Col. Steve Kirkpatrick. ”We are proud play a vital role supporting the 45th Space Wing and the entire space community.”
Several other units across the 920th Rescue Wing also provided support, including aircraft maintenance and life support. The Reservists must be ready each time a launch is scheduled. Many storms off Florida’s coast morph into more severe weather systems threatening populated areas along the eastern seaboard and the Gulf of Mexico. But upgrades to the GOES satellites have enabled NOAA and its National Weather Service to provide early warnings so people can take action in advance of the onset of severe weather.
GOES-O is also designed with links that include a search-and-rescue capability to detect distress signals from maritime vessels and aircraft. The added capability will allow emergency responders, like Air Force Northern Command’s Air Force Rescue Recovery Center, to obtain accurate, real-time information quickly enabling them to deploy appropriate resources, like the 920th, to save lives.
To date, Rescue Reservists have supported more than 400 launches alongside their active-duty counterparts, but that’s just a portion of what these Citizen Airmen are trained for.
“They are a Rescue force to be reckoned with,” said Col. Kirkpatrick who deployed to the Gulf region September 12, 2008 with 50 of Brevard County Rescue Reservists as part of a joint search and rescue unit at Randolph AFB in south Texas. Col. Kirkpatrick was tasked to command more than 800 joint-forces personnel staging there with approximately 20 Air Force and Navy HH-60 helicopters and four HC-130s. In all, they rescued 17 people, three Chihuahuas and two cats.
“Our SAR crews endure specialized training to conduct humanitarian and combat search and rescues,” said Colonel Kirkpatrick. “We always hope there won’t be a need for it. But when there is, we’ll do it — and we’ll do it well.”
The 920th RQW is an Air Force Reserve combat search and rescue unit which performs more than 20% of the Air Force’s CSAR mission at only 4% of the total budget. The Wing is comprised of 1,500 Airmen and flies both fixed and rotor wing aircraft: the HC-130P/N extended-range Hercules and the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter.
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