Jon Tester: “So it is with great pride that I rise to honor the 400 air men and women of the Air Force's 819th RED HORSE Squadron.…”

“So it is with great pride that I rise to honor the 400 air men and women of the Air Force's 819th RED HORSE Squadron. About one-half of this squadron is deploying today for training in Wisconsin before going to Iraq later this year. Over the last decade, Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, MT, has been the home of the 819th RED HORSE Squadron. For the uninitiated, RED HORSE stands for rapid engineer deployable heavy operation repair squadron engineer. Basically, these are the men and women who rebuild Air Force facilities overseas, such as runways. They also have spent considerable time in Iraq rebuilding schools and homes. These are men and women who do some truly wonderful work. In a previous deployment to Iraq in 2005, the squadron was involved in 130 construction projects on 12 different bases in Iraq. The 819th has served in Afghanistan and Qatar. In every place they have taken on complicated engineering projects for the U.S. Government but have also done outstanding work with locals to rehabilitate housing and provide residents with everything from coloring books for kids to new washing machines. It is a combination of accomplishment, strength, and generosity that represents the best of our Nation.”