DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. — Over the last two years the 943d Mission Support Flight has deployed one third of their personnel to support Air Force and DoD missions both stateside and abroad, from combat operations to facilitating Afghanistan refugees coming to America, the 943d MSF delivers

The 943d MSF functions as a traditional Mission Support Group but with a fraction of the manpower at only 36 personnel. They have four different mission sets: logistics readiness element, communications element, training element, and a satellite personnel office which functions as a small Force Support squadron.

From moving equipment and personnel, maintaining and operating communication equipment, facilitating professional military education, making ID cards and processing retirement and reenlistment paperwork; the 943d MSF is the backbone of the 943d Rescue Group mission of personnel recovery.

There are 400 people assigned to the 943d RQG, but the satellite personnel office and communications element supports over 1,400 Air Force reservist in the local area, providing personnel related program support.

Airmen deployed with the 943d RQG HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and the 920th Rescue Wing’s C-130J Combat King II aircraft to support various training missions around the world.

Master Sgt. Fierro, 943d MSF system administrator, is a traditional reservist that deployed with the 910th Airlift Wing, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, for six months including one month of pre-deployment training. Fierro supported AFRICOM, Combined Joint Task Force, and our NATO allies as part of Operation Octave Quartz.

“It was a 24/7 flying mission in a combat zone and I was the only communications Airman there, so I had to be available at any moment. The expectations are much greater, so training is very important. Every training opportunity counts,” said Fierro.

One highly visible mission the 943d MSF supported was deploying communications personnel to Operation Allies Welcome, New Jersey, where they stood up a communications center.

“Not only are we called upon to perform missions for our group and our geographically separated wing but we’re doing missions for other services. We also have some people that were sought out by other units because they have such great knowledge of their jobs within their community,” said Lt. Col. Steven Bursick, 943d MSF commander.

In the logistics section six people deployed over the course of a year and three of them were full-time employees. The 943d MSF has a supply troop embedded with the 943d Maintenance Squadron and the position was unaffected, but the supply warehouse was unmanned.

Staff Sgt. Eli Regino, 943d MSF material management apprentice, as a traditional reservist he is embedded with the 943d MXS and deployed twice in 2022.

“The day-to-day operations at home station are similar to a deployed location; the additional change is where to source parts and equipment while downrange. When you’re stateside you’re training but you want to treat it as real world, because when it’s real world you don’t have time to wait on things, you must be able to respond as fast as possible, said Regino.”

While deployed, Regino was one of first to replace the outgoing team and quickly managed to navigate the supply chain and make contacts with other supply entities in the area to find additional avenues of sourcing items quickly. His knowledge, skill and reputation led to senior leaders coming directly to him when they needed supplies.

During this deployment he was able to work at a main operating base and a forward operating site. Under the Air Force’s new initiative for agile combat employment, a MOB is an established facility, and a FOS is a temporary location from which operations are employed and can quickly be relocated.

“I learned how to ration supplies and equipment, hold on to whatever assets you have and reup when you can. You’re in the middle of nowhere; it’s really mission focused,” said Regino.

Regino was responsible for four internal sling abled units and four pallets of supplies and equipment; a total value of 16.5 million dollars.

An additional task came down to forward-deployed personnel to supply equipment in response to potential nuclear, chemical, and biological warfare from competitors that threatened our NATO allies.

“The logistics and supply sides are ready for the new ACE construct. As part of the 943d RQG, our team is used to operating in austere environments with limited supplies,” said Bursick.

The newest opportunity for the communication flight is deploying to a forward location where there is no established base, cellphone reception, computers, internet or electricity. The goal is to have a working communications infrastructure within four hours of arriving.

“The 943d MSF is preparing for the next level fight by engaging in more exercises, training, and deployments. The performance and accomplishments of my Airmen have not gone unnoticed,” said Bursick.

The 943d RQG is a geographically separated unit of the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida, and carries out the wing’s mission to plan, lead, and conduct military rescue operations and missions to deny competitors and adversaries exploitation of isolated personnel. Air Force rescue is the only DoD entity specifically organized, trained, and equipped to conduct personnel recovery operations into hostile or denied areas as a primary mission.