AIR GUARD RESCUE TASK FORCE PREPARES FOR HURRICANE IKE
By 1st Lt. Theresa M. Chrystal

Moffett Federal Airfield, Calif. September 11, 2008 - Air National Guardsmen from the 129th Rescue Wing who were deployed to Ellington Field in Houston for hurricane search and rescue support operations have relocated today to Kelly Field in San Antonio due to Hurricane Ike’s projected path.

The 129th forces are part of Joint Task Force 129, a self-contained search and rescue unit. The JTF is comprised of more than 100 personnel (including highly trained pararescuemen), four HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters, and two MC-130P Combat Shadow tankers. Air National Guardsmen from the 176th Wing, Kulis Air National Guard Base, Alaska, are also part of the rescue task force.

The rescue task force is prepared to help facilitate emergency evacuations and perform search and rescue operations in preparation of Hurricane Ike’s aftermath. After the hurricane passes through the region, JTF personnel will proceed directly to the disaster area to perform rescue operations as needed.

JTF 129 swiftly deployed to Ellington Field from here Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 to perform Hurricane Gustav rescue operations. The rescue teams remained in place after Hurricane Gustav passed through the area because additional storms were forecast to hit the Gulf Coast.

“Even after supporting the fire suppression operations and rescue missions here in California, the 129th quickly transitioned and deployed its life-saving capabilities to assist another region of the country,” said Col. Amos Bagdasarian, 129th Rescue Wing commander.

As an Air National Guard unit, many of the 129th’s past missions involved supporting state emergencies that included earthquakes, chemical spills, fires and floods. Equipped with MC-130P Combat Shadow tankers and HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters, the 129th has performed a wide variety of civilian search and rescue missions, including distressed persons aboard ships, lost or injured hikers, and medical evacuations. The total number of people saved by the 129th RQW is 564.

For more information, go to http://www.129rqw.ang.af.mil.

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