To the horse

Col. Curtis Williams, 610th Regional Support Group commander at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, and Col. Danial Leveille, 560th Red Horse Squadron commander, unveil the 560 RHS emblem at a ceremony Sunday. The squadron will consist of 209 personnel and is an engineering unit that provides major force bed-down, damage repair and heavy engineering operations during wartime at locations around the world. (U.S. Air Force graphic by/Tech. Sgt. Jeff Kelly)

To the horse

A statue marking the arrival of the 560th Red Horse Squadron will be placed in front of their newly established squadron building. The squadron consists of 209 personnel and is an engineering unit that provides major force bed-down, damage repair and heavy engineering operations during wartime at locations around the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by/Tech. Sgt. Jeff Kelly)

New rapidly deployable squadron stands up at Charleston AFB

Published March 8, 2009
By Capt. Bryan Lewis
315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

CHARLESTON AFB, S.C. -- Marking the beginning of a new Air Force Reserve squadron here, an official stand-up ceremony and assumption of command, including the unveiling of the unit's guidon and emblem, occurred at the Charleston Club Sunday.

The unit, 560th Red Horse Squadron, will consist of 209 personnel and is an engineering unit that provides major force bed-down, damage repair and heavy engineering operations during wartime at locations around the world. 'Red Horse' stands for rapid engineer deployment, heavy operational repair squadron engineering.

"We are on the pointy end of the spear," said Col. Daniel Leveille, 560 RHS commander. "We go where we need to go."

Attending the ceremony was retired Brig. Gen. Tom Meredith who is recognized as the father of Red Horse operations. He was also the commander of the 560th Civil Engineering Squadron.

The 560 RHS is one of two new units being stood up by the Air Force Reserve, with the other being based at Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina. A new civil engineering complex to be used jointly with active-duty members is scheduled for construction in the near future.