920th OSS Aircrew Flight Equipment Earns Air Force-Level Recognition for Excellence

Staff Sgt. Corey Coats, 920th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment technician, repacks an ML-4 one-man life raft at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida, Oct. 18, 2024. The ML-4 is essential for aircrew survival in emergency water landings, providing flotation and protection until rescue. Typically, seven ML-4s are packed on the 920th Rescue Wing’s HC-130J Combat King II aircraft. The 920th OSS supports the 308th, 39th, and 301st Rescue Squadrons with weapons and tactics development, operational planning, flying training guidance, aircrew life support, and intelligence analysis.

920th OSS Aircrew Flight Equipment Earns Air Force-Level Recognition for Excellence

Aircrew Flight Equipment Airmen assigned to the 920th Operations Support Squadron conducted an M69 Protective Mask System fitting and inspection training at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida, Feb. 4, 2024. The 920th OSS supports the 308th, 39th, and 301st Rescue Squadrons with weapons and tactics development, operational planning, flying training guidance, aircrew life support, and intelligence analysis.

920th OSS Aircrew Flight Equipment Earns Air Force-Level Recognition for Excellence

Staff Sgt. Emanuelle Negron, 920th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment technician, repacks a BA-30 Low Profile parachute here Aug. 24. The BA-30 LPP parachute is designed to provide a low profile and reduced visibility during a decent. The 920th OSS supports the 308th, 39th, and 301st Rescue Squadrons with weapons and tactics development, operational planning, flying training guidance, aircrew life support, and intelligence analysis.

920th OSS Aircrew Flight Equipment Earns Air Force-Level Recognition for Excellence

Published April 2, 2025
By Tech. Sgt. Darius Sostre-Miroir

PATRICK SPACE FORCE BASE, Fla. --

The 920th Operations Support Squadron’s Aircrew Flight Equipment team has won the Outstanding Air Reserve Component Program Award for calendar year 2024.

As the support backbone of the 920th Rescue Wing’s flying mission, the 920th OSS is responsible for ensuring aircrew are fully equipped for combat search and rescue operations. The AFE team plays an important role in that mission by maintaining the life-saving gear used by aircrew in some of the most demanding environments.

Tech. Sgt. Bonnie Buckelew conducted a 180-day inspection on the 56P helmets — Tech. Sgt. Bonnie Buckelew, 920th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment technician, conducted a 180-day inspection on the 56P helmets used by 301st Rescue Squadron aircrew at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida, April 1, 2025. This inspection requires each helmet to be fully disassembled, inspected, cleaned and reassembled to ensure its structural integrity and continued safety for operational use. The 920th OSS supports the 308th, 39th, and 301st Rescue Squadrons with weapons and tactics development, operational planning, flying training guidance, aircrew life support, and intelligence analysis.

Over the past year, the AFE team supported five major exercises, advanced partner-nation integrations and validated agile combat employment concepts in austere environments. Their efforts included managing more than 7,000 pieces of critical gear, safeguarding $3 million in assets and deploying personnel across multiple theaters.

“I couldn’t be prouder of our AFE team. They understand that safe and sustainable personnel recovery starts with them. From saving a child’s life during a civil search and rescue mission in the Atlantic to establishing best practices for unit type code sustainment, their recognition at the Air Force level is well earned. They’ve proven themselves to be the AFE tactical experts within AFRC and are ready now to support CSAR missions anywhere,” said Lt. Col. Matt Johnson, 920th OSS commander.

The 920th Rescue Wing is Air Force Reserve Command’s only dedicated rescue wing, providing combat search and rescue capabilities to combatant commanders worldwide.

The 920th Operations Support Squadron’s Aircrew Flight Equipment team stands for a group photo. — The 920th Operations Support Squadron’s Aircrew Flight Equipment team stands for a group photo at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida, March 13, 2025. The 920th OSS supports the 308th, 39th, and 301st Rescue Squadrons with weapons and tactics development, operational planning, flying training guidance, aircrew life support, and intelligence analysis.