News United States Air Force
 First RED HORSE training squadron up, ready to runPublished April 27, 2022
                        
                        By Airman 1st Class Tiffany Del Oso
                        
                        
                        325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
                **TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) --**
                The 823rd RED HORSE, Detachment 1, inactivated and the 801st RED HORSE Training Squadron was activated during a ceremony at **Tyndall Air Force Base**, April 26. RED HORSE stands for Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers.
This is the Air Force’s first RED HORSE training squadron, their mission is developing and delivering integrated, realistic training and exercises to combat support teams.
“As the Air Force continues to move forward with its readiness posture, prepare for the future fight and integrate programs such as agile combat employment, the importance of realistic, integrated, relevant training becomes more and more important,” said Maj. Craig Poulin, 801st RHTS commander.Men observing an exerciseStaff Sgt. Travis Pinaula, 823rd RED HORSE, Detachment 1 fire contingency instructor, observes an exercise at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., April 18, 2022. The detachment hosts a variety of contingency combat-support training focused on integrated base response and recovery operations. RED HORSE stands for Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Tiffany Price)
            
            
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    Men pose for a photoCol. Matthew Welling, 800th RED HORSE Group commander, left, presents Maj. Craig Poulin, with the guidon of the 801st RHTS at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., April 26, 2022. Poulin assumed command of the 801st RHTS after relinquishing command of the now deactivated 823d RED HORSE, Detachment 1. RED HORSE stands for Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Tiffany Del Oso)
            
            
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    Airmen stand in formationAirmen with the 801st RED HORSE Training Squadron stand in formation at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., April 26, 2022. The now deactivated 823rd RED HORSE, Detachment 1 was a geographically separated unit of the 823rd RED HORSE Squadron located at Hurlburt Field, Fla., however, the two had vastly different mission sets. The deactivation of the detachment and the activation of the 801st RHTS promotes an environment of maximum training efficiency. RED HORSE stands for Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Tiffany Del Oso)
            
            
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The detachment was previously a geographically separated unit of the 823rd RHS located at **Hurlburt Field**, Florida, but the two had vastly different mission sets. Department of the Air Force RED HORSE Squadrons are highly capable and deployable units of civil engineers. The 801st RHTS has a specific mission to provide contingency support training not only to civil engineers, but other Air Force specialties as well.
“It’s important to recognize the mission we do here,” said Staff Sgt. Pablo Gavillan, 801st RHTS heating, ventilation and air conditioning contingency instructor. “When we don the red hat, the word training embroidered alongside the red horse symbol will exemplify our capabilities.”
The 801st RHTS provides multiple sections of training to include Silver Flag, rapid airfield damage recovery training, the civil engineer officer field experience and the **Air Force Civil Engineer** Readiness Challenge. As a premier combat support training location, they also support research, development and fielding new assets.
The 801st RHTS hosts several courses and exercises for career fields like ground transportation, civil engineering, manpower, contracting and force support.
“We are an integrated training site, which is one of the most invaluable things Airmen can get,” said Senior Master Sgt. Amy Gray, 801st RHTS combat support training flight chief. “It’s student driven training, so when they arrive it’s not just home-station training where they are in their own career field bubble. They have to integrate and work together to solve the problem.”
The shift from detachment to squadron allows the unit to report directly to the 800th RED HORSE Group and promotes an environment of maximum efficiency.
“We’ve always had a training mission,” said Chief Master Sgt. John Agnew, 801st RHTS senior enlisted leader. “We are going to continue that mission, but what the change from detachment to squadron is, its recognition and acknowledgement of the importance of our role.”
Approximately 3,000 students are slated to cycle through the 801st RHTS every year to participate in exercises and hands-on training with a team of highly skilled instructors. With the 801st RHTS activated, the training mindset will continue to allow these instructors to research and develop the most accurate curriculums, ensuring Airmen who train under them are combat-ready and prepared for any contingency support mission.
“RED HORSE squadrons build things; they build infrastructure, they build runways,” Poulin said. “We are a RED HORSE training squadron and what we build here at Tyndall is confident and competent Airmen.”LR 



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