Airmen stand ready to provide hurricane relief at Randolph

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Matthew Bates
  • Air Force News Agency
SAN ANTONIO (AFPN) --  Airmen with the 331st Air Expeditionary Group are staged at Randolph Air Force Base ready to respond with aid Sept. 12 as Hurricane Ike bears down on the Texas coast.

The group, made up of nearly 600 people, brings with it units and capabilities from across the Air Force. 

Among them are search and rescue teams from Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., tactical air control parties from Fort Polk, La., communications personnel from Robbins AFB, Ga., and other Airmen from Moody AFB, Ga., and Patrick AFB, Fla.

"We have a lot of capabilities we can use to support relief efforts," said Col. Steve Kirkpatrick, 331st AEG commander. "When called upon we will do what we can, where we can."

For now, this means sitting and waiting to see what Hurricane Ike will bring, how much damage it will cause and how many people will need to be rescued in its wake.

It's a mission that is both necessary and rewarding, the colonel said.

"It's Americans helping Americans," Colonel Kirkpatrick said. "And being able to use our military assets and training to save lives is a great thing."

Still, those in the group know that having to use their training in this situation means there are citizens in danger.

"I love doing my job," said Senior Airman Ryan Ruddy, a pararescueman with the 48th Rescue Squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB. "But when I do my job it means someone's in a potentially life-threatening situation."

Once Ike passes over the Texas coast, members of the 331st AEG will send some of its assets and personnel closer to the areas most hit by the hurricane.

"Randolph is a great point for us to stage from," Colonel Kirkpatrick said. "But once we're able to, we want to get as close as we can to the hardest hit areas so we can provide as much support as we can, as quick as we can."

Meanwhile, the group will sit and wait along with the rest of the nation.

"We're ready," the colonel said. "If we're needed, we'll do a great job."

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