Page 3 - Desert Lightning News So. AZ Edition, April 2019

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943rd RQG hosts Tucson civic leaders
Story and photo by Master Sgt. MEREDITH MINGLEDORFF
355th Wing Public Affairs
The 943rd Rescue Group invited local community leaders from the Military Affairs Committee at Davis- Monthan Air Force Base March 14 to lunch and a unit tour, that introduced them to the Reserve group’s unique rescue capabilities.
Col. John Beatty, 943rd Rescue Group commander, hosted 50 civilian and military guests for the event, during which time he presented the Air Force Reserve’s capability to organize, train and equip mission-ready, Citizen-Airmen to perform personnel recovery opera- tions worldwide.
As a premier combat rescue organization, the 943rd RQG provides combat-ready Citizen-Airmen and re- sources anytime, anywhere in the world.
The group is deployed globally, supporting joint op- erations in every theater imaginable with a 70-percent Reserve force. The men and women of the 943rd have part-time military jobs that require full-time readiness. While holding down civilian jobs, going to school, and raising their families, they must also maintain the exact same military qualifications as their active-duty counter- parts. Many do extra time in uniform to meet and exceed the training needed, to ensure they are expert life-savers who can serve in dynamic and dangerous situations.
The nearly 600 Airmen assigned keep a daunting operations tempo, not only deploying globally to every theater of war, but operating in support of both local and international rescue needs. At its home stations, the group’s five squadrons and two flights can often be partnered with local, state, and federal agencies to assist with civilian rescues, both here in Southern Arizona and at the geographically separated unit, the 304th Rescue Squadron in Portland, Oregon.
Responding to lost hikers and injured skiers in America’s deserts and mountains is just as common as airlifting American and allied warriors from battlefields in foreign lands. The group has conducted famous res- cues like saving Corpsman 1st Class Marcus Lutrell, a
Capt. Ryan Gilbert, 943rd Rescue Group combat rescue officer, briefs members of the Tucson Military Affairs Committee March 14 on the Tucson-based Air Force Reserve’s premier rescue capabilities at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. They provide combat-ready Citizen-Airmen and resources, anytime, anywhere in the world.
U.S. Navy SEAL, from a Taliban stronghold in Afghani- stan, in 2005.
After the luncheon, MAC chairwoman Ellen Jimenez thanked the 943rd RQG.
“You guys are amazing,” she said. “We can’t thank you enough for taking time out of your busy schedules to give us this insight and share your mission with us.”
Jimenez, representing the business communities of Southern Arizona, knows that the quiet professionals at the 943rd have conducted thousands more rescues than the one told in the Hollywood movie Lone Survivor,
but she wanted to make sure the other business leaders knew the group’s impact on national security, as well as their economic impact on local communities.
The 943rd’s last economic impact analysis was com- pleted in 2017, at which time it was found the unit provided $48.9 million to the local Arizona economy, and $12.3 million in Oregon.
Jimenez applauded local support for the Reserve, reiterating the presence of Reserve forces in an area mean members serving there are local citizens, who
See CiviC, Page 12
Staff
Publisher ..............................................................Paul Kinison Business manager ...............................................Lisa Kinison Editor .......................................................... Deborah Leuthold Advertising representative................................Sandi Bueltel Designer ............................................................... Emma Uribe
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