79th RQS hones skills during Red Flag 16-3

An HC-130 from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, sits idly on the Nellis flightline before preparing to take-off for a training sortie during Red Flag 16-3 July 13. With the HC-130 providing transport to the 79th Rescue Squadron during the exercise, the aircraft is able to deliver the RQS airman to the destination during the exercises while also being able to perform supply drops into the field. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jake Carter)

Red Flag 16-3 Night Operations

Senior Airman Timothy Thomasula, a maintainer assigned to the 923rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., performs pre-flight checks on an HC-130J Combat King II prior to a Red Flag 16-3 night training mission July 13, 2016 at Nellis AFB, Nev. The HC-130J is an extended-range version of the C-130J Hercules transport. Its mission is to rapidly deploy and execute combatant commander directed recovery operations to austere airfields and denied territory for expeditionary, all weather personnel recovery operations, and forward area ground refueling missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joshua Kleinholz/Released)

Red Flag 16-3 Night Operations

Senior Airman Frankie Harper, a loadmaster assigned to the 79th Rescue Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., performs pre-flight checks on an HC-130J Combat King II prior to a Red Flag 16-3 night training mission July 13, 2016 at Nellis AFB, Nev. HC-130J crews normally fly night at low to medium altitude levels in contested or sensitive environments, both over land or overwater. Crews use night vision goggles for tactical flight profiles to avoid detection to accomplish covert infiltration/exfiltration and transload operations. . (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joshua Kleinholz/Released)

923d AMXS, 79th RQS hones skills during Red Flag

Published July 22, 2016
By Localized from 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
99th Air Base Wing

Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. -- (Editor’s Note: This localized story was originally written by Senior Airman Jake Carter, 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The original copy can be found at http://www.nellis.af.mil/News/Features/tabid/6444/Article/848686/79th-rqs-hones-skills-during-red-flag-16-3.aspx)

U.S. Air Force pararescuemen from the 79th Rescue Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, as well as Airmen from the 923d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, a tenant unit of the 23d Wing here will participate in Red Flag 2016 at Nellis AFB, Nev.

Over the next three weeks, the squadrons will train and integrate with other units from around the world, learning new skills that will later be applied in a deployed environment.

“The biggest thing I’m hoping my aircrew takes away from Red Flag is total force integration,” said Maj. Edward Montgomery, 79th RQS detachment commander. “As combat rescue, our downrange mission is to protect the combat forces performing strikes and air defense.

“To be able to integrate side-by-side with striker and fighter jets and learn their perspectives and mission consideration makes this experience invaluable for us,” Montgomery added.

While working alongside strikers and fighters, the 79th RQS and 923d AMXS will also integrate with members of the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape career field to complete the mission.

“Our mission [while we are here] is to practice personnel recovery,” said Montgomery. “In addition, we plan to educate other communities about the limitations and capabilities of the rescue squadron. With that, all parties will be better poised for success if we are ever involved in an event downrange.”

The joint exercise is designed to prepare Airmen for the future by symbolizing a deployment scenario.

“During the event, our mindset is directed to getting the plane ready because at any point something could happen and we have to be ready,” said Senior Airman Joshua Snapp, 923d AMXS electrical and environmental systems journeyman. “The exercise mimics the same high tempo [experienced during] a deployment, which prepares new Airmen and provides a refresher for [more experienced] Airmen.”

Due to the fast pace training, Montgomery sees this opportunity as the best training available for his Airmen who have a deployment on the horizon.

“Red Flag is a great training event for our aircrew, especially right now because we are a very young community,” said Montgomery. “The majority of my aircrew have never been to Red Flag nor have they deployed, so the lessons that we’re learning here will be directly applied to an upcoming deployment. In this regard, there is no better training for us to be participating in.”