Dobbins civic leaders get double dose of AFRC missions

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Elizabeth Van Patten
  • 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOBBINS AIR RESERBE BASE, Ga. --  The 902th Rescue Wing is the only wing of its type in the Air Force Reserve Command. The wing has completed 18 percent of all rescue missions within the Air Force as a whole during the last year, according to wing senior leadership.

Given that the Reserve operates on four percent of the budget the Air Force has allocated total, you do the math. Quantitatively, the mission of the 920 RQW is effective.

Qualitatively, the 920 RQW mission can be summed up best by the pararescue jumper motto, "These things we do that others may live." This is, of course, an extremely oversimplified view of the 920 RQW and the pararescue jumpers that constitute the tip of the spear for the wing.

What are these things that they do and who are these people?

"The people of the 920th are combat veterans for the most part," said Col. Timothy Tarchick, 94th Airlift Wing commander. "Not just one tour, but many. They have an amazing mission. It takes a special breed of person to accomplish these things. Just like at Dobbins, the Airmen here are America's finest."

It was clear to anyone that Tarchick was sincere in his praise for the pararescuemen, and even so far that he knew his words barely did their deeds justice.

Civic leaders from the area surrounding Dobbins Air Reserve Base were invited to Patrick Air Force Base for a tour to answer these questions for themselves. They were able to see, first hand, what it is a PJ does and what kind of person it is that does it.

Also a former 920 RQW commander, Tarchick showcased not one, but two complete missions of the Air Force - pararescue and tactical airlift.

The two-day trip to Patrick AFB, home of the 920 RQW, started the morning of Oct. 24. Meeting at the 94th AW headquarters building, the civic leaders were briefed on the Air Force Reserve mission and the role Dobbins plays in that mission before departing for Florida.

The trip to Patrick took approximately two hours aboard a 94 AW C-130 Hercules. For most in the group, this was their first C-130 ride, with their second being the return flight to Dobbins.

Upon landing, the civic leaders were bused to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for a highlight tour that pulled at their heartstrings. The tour featured the historic Cape Canaveral lighthouse, and Launch Pad 34, now a memorial honoring fallen astronauts of Apollo 1.

The group was also taken to a launch bunker where the 45th Space Wing offered the civic leaders an important perspective of their mission.

Second Lt. Kelly Patterson, of the 5th Launch Support Squadron, 45 SW, spoke enthusiastically about how she contributes to the overall Air Force mission.  She also emphasized the role 920 RQW plays for the 45 SW in maintaining the launch capabilities of the nation's space assets - namely, rockets.

"We have a lot of things that take pictures of rockets, follow rockets and track rockets," said Patterson. "There are a lot of people involved. So, we want to make sure that we are taking care of those people, and that we are maintaining that infrastructure. That's really our priority - to make sure that we are working together as a team toward that capability."

The 45 SW depends on the 920 RQW to search for and bring back rockets launched from the Space Coast.

Beginning the second day of the trip, the 920 RQW commander and staff members lead the group through a mission briefing, which included stories about various missions the wing had been involved in, both with the current leadership and from when Tarchick led the wing. While most stories were humorous, some elicited different emotions. One story in particular had the sad outcome of a PJ giving his own life, saving others.

Current 94th Airlift Wing and former 920 RQW commander, Col. Timothy Tarchick, fondly remembered another informal PJ motto, "So you think you have what it takes to become one of us? We doubt it."

Chief Master Sgt. Doug Kestranek, 308th Rescue Squadron chief enlisted manager, was a PJ in the wing when Tarchick was the 920 RQW commander and on-hand for the briefing to share his thoughts with the civic leaders as well.

"It means a whole lot to us that you are here," said Kestranek. "It makes our efforts worthwhile, knowing that you are interested in what we have going on here. I've very confident in the leadership we have and we are moving in the right direction."

After learning what the 920 RQW did, the group was invited to see what a PJ Airman does during a training exercise over the Banana River. PJs, via static line parachute, exited a C-130, while other PJs were dropped into the water and picked up by two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters.

For the jumpers this training was likely commonplace. For the civic leaders, this was a demonstration of skill, talent and courage never before seen.

The group received several take-aways, regarding not only the PJ mentality, but Airmanship across the Reserve.

"A key take-away for us isn't that we got to ride on a C-130 or touch and see neat assets, but that we see the Airmen," said Travis Ellis, of Mobilize Fuels and member of the Dobbins Honorary Commanders Association. "Airmen who put their lives on the line every day - they do it for us and they do it for not a lot of reward. It's an awesome thing and it's not to be taken for granted."