106th Rescue Wing deploys New York Air National Guard airmen to Afghanistan and Horn of Africa

LATHAM, NY, UNITED STATES

10.04.2012

Courtesy Story

New York National Guard

LATHAM, N.Y. - Over 150 members of the New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing deployed to Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa last week.

The airmen, who are trained to recover downed pilots and other personnel as required, have been training for the deployments for the past year.

The airmen are expected to return home in January.

"It was a team effort to get our members out the door," said Lt. Col Shawn Fitzgerald, the acting commander of the 106th Operations Group. "They are excited, ready and trained for the mission.
All elements of the 106th Rescue Wing worked together to prepare for the deployment, said Col. Thomas Owens, the wing commander.

Maintenance, mission support, and medical groups worked to make certain that the deployment requirements for both Afghanistan and Africa were met and that each airman's personnel affairs were in order.

The "spin-up" training that the airmen went through in the past year "has been unprecedented as far as quality of training, integration with other units and realism," Owens said.

"Our folks have made several deployments for training to high quality ranges throughout the United States," he said. The 106th airmen worked with other units from the Air Force and the other serves to prepare for the missions they will be tasked with," Owens added.

At the same time the wing's maintenance teams ensured that the aircraft the wing deployed – HH60G Pavehawk rescue helicopters and HC-130 search and rescue aircraft - were in top shape.

Members of the wing's maintenance group also deployed with the para-rescue and search and recovery airmen.

"I am truly proud of the men and women of the 106th Rescue Wing," said Col. Jeffrey Arndy, commander of the 106th Maintenance Group. "We train with the mindset of being a world-class team of adaptable personnel recovery war fighters. Our deployed members are well prepared for the tasking at hand."

While their airmen are deployed the wing will provide support for family members here at home, Owens said.

• Date Taken: 10.04.2012
• Date Posted: 10.04.2012 17:37
• Story ID: 95731
• Location: LATHAM, NY, US