Page 4 - Desert Lightning News So. AZ Edition, Nov. 2, 2018

4 November 2018 Desert Lightning News www.aerotechnews.com/davis-monthanafb
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563rd RQG realigns under 355th FW
Story and photo by Airman FRANKIE MOORE 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
The 563rd Rescue Group, a geographically separated unit out of Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, was realigned from the 23rd Wing to the 355th Fighter Wing Oct. 1 at Davis-Monthan AFB.
The realignment brought all rescue squadrons and mainte- nance units that fall under the 563rd RQG, to include other geographically separated assets located at Nellis AFB, Nevada, under the supervision of the 355th FW.
“This realignment gives us unity of command over a team that we’ve been working with for years,” said Col. Mike Drow- ley, 355th FW commander. “This brings us closer to a ‘One base, One boss’ concept which better helps us take care of assets on the installation.”
Thanks to this consolidation, the Air Force now has two instal- lations with mirroring and equal capabilities. Both bases are now
home to HC-130, HH-60 Pave Hawk and pararescue squadrons that provide combat search and rescue support and A-10 Thun- derbolt II fighter squadrons that provide close air support.
“This increase provides a stra- tegic advantage for CSAR opera- tions in the future,” said Col. Ja- son Pifer, 563rd RQG commander. “This can also take some weight off Moody’s shoulders, allowing them to focus more on their other rescue group and its abilities.”
Since its activation at D-M AFB in 2003, the 563rd RQG has worked diligently with the 355th FW, due, in part, to their closely related operations.
“The rescue community and the A-10 community have a very synergistic mission,” Drowley said. “Having them as part of our family now allows us to better care for them as an Airman team and provide them with whatever they need to get their job done more efficiently.”
As a result of their previous and ongoing working relationship, the 355th FW and 563rd RQG realign-
Col. Michael Drowley, 355th Fighter Wing commander, passes the guidon to Col. Jason Pifer, 563rd Rescue Group commander, Oct. 5 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in recognition of the 563rd RQG’s realignment from the 23rd Wing to the 355th FW.
ment will have very little mission impact on missions here.
“Because the 563rd has been a mission partner for so long, their incorporation will not have a tre- mendous impact on our day-to-day activities,” Drowley said. “This just helps give us better insight on how to help prioritize resources in
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order to provide a greater benefit to their operations.”
With this realignment, the 355th FW has increased its capabilities by integrating with a team that possesses a like mission set and can now pro- vide greater support to troops downrange.
“Now that this transition is official, everyone is looking for- ward to moving out and execut- ing future operations together,” Drowley said. “We’ve always had a close relationship with this group and this consolidation is going to take everything to the next level.”
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