The Air Force has merged two “overlapping specialties”—aircrew life support and survival equipment—into one new one, the aircrew flight equipment career field, reports TSgt. Parker Gyokeres. Airmen in these fields will undergo two months of cross utilization training before becoming qualified in the different field. Once done, the Air Force would double its deployment-capable pool. Previously, airmen serving in survival equipment did not deploy, while those in life support were considered over-stressed.
Members of the Air Force Reserve’s 920th Rescue Wing helped save 11 airplane crash survivors off the coast of Florida on May 12. The Reserve Airmen were flying an HC-130J Combat King II and an HH-60W Jolly Green II on a routine training flight when a Coast Guard call diverted…