Stony Brook Man Completes Military Training Course

Airman 1st Class Richard Sotomayer from Stony Brook has completed training for the Aircrew Flight Equipment Apprentice course at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, the New York Air National Guard announced Friday.

Sotomayer is a member of the 106th Rescue Wing, based in Westhampton Beach, which operates HH-60 Pavehawk rescue helicopters and HC-130 Hercules search and rescue aircraft.

According to the New York Air National Guard, the wartime mission of the 106th Rescue Wing is "to rescue American and Allied personnel lost behind enemy lines." Members of that division have been deployed to Afghanistan to support U.S. military operations. The wing also trains pararescue jumpers who "drop behind enemy lines to secure friendly troops, or into the ocean to rescue crewmen from a sinking ship."

"The 106th Rescue Wing is very proud of the achievements of our Airmen," said Col. Thomas J. Owens II, commander of the 106th Rescue Wing. "The various training courses they complete improve not only their skills but they are then able to better our entire wing in the mission of personnel recovery, ultimately saving lives, both here at home and abroad."