Photo By Shannon Hall | U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jimmel Winkfield, 489th Maintenance Squadron crew chief,...... read more read more
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The 489th BG’s mission is to forge unrivaled total force warriors, providing full-spectrum expeditionary support and lethal B-1 combat capability, with a vision of executing innovative solutions for force development, international engagement and combat capabilities.
“Simply put, we are here to support and help the 7th Bomb Wing complete their mission,” said Col. Denis Heinz, 489th BG commander. “We accomplish this by hiring highly-qualified, mission-capable aircrew and maintenance members, support from medical ensuring all personnel are up to date on their medical readiness, office staff completing orders and paperwork in the Defense Travel System and by training aircrew.”
The group is made up of Air Reserve Technicians and traditional reservists. While traditional reservists are only required to report for duty one weekend a month and two weeks a year, ARTs carry a dual status working as full-time civil service employees for the Air Force and then, at times, as military members in the unit for the Air Force Reserve Command.
Since being activated, the 489th BG has completely integrated itself across Dyess and works closely with the active duty squadrons. The seamless integreation with active duty helps build and strengthen the relationship between the bomb wing and the group.
“We work with the 7th Maintenance Group, 9th Bomb Squadron, 28th Bomb Squadron, 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron and the 7th Medical Group,” said Maj. Garth Ranz, 489th Maintenance Squadron commander. “My maintainers work side-by-side with active duty and we have Reserve maintenance launching aircraft every day. You’d never be able to tell the difference.”
The group was brought in to augment the work of active duty members through Total Force Integration. The reservists and active duty members do the same work on a daily basis.
“It has been an awesome experience to work alongside active duty members,” said Staff Sgt. Jimmel Winkfield, 489th Maintenance Squadron Air Reserve technician. “When they need a little extra help, I step up and do what I can to make sure the mission continues unhindered at home, on temporary duty assignments and deployments.”
The group recently participated in a Combat Mission Effectiveness exercise with the 7th BW, where they processed through the deployment line, built pallets and ensured the aircraft got off the ground.
“We processed two of our reservists, because deploying Reserve members is different than active duty due to us using different systems that they do not have access to,” Heinz said. “We had zero discrepancies for our deployers and we will continue to put two to five personnel through the line as we grow so that in a real-world situation, there will be no issues.”
In the past five months the group has stood up their own unit, completed hiring for over 40 percent of their personnel, completed all of their scheduled sorties and missions and has had a steady growth in experienced personnel. This brings continuity to the base by having reservists who could potentially stay at Dyess for a longer time period than active duty members.
“We’re doing great stuff now to support the 7th Bomb Wing, just wait for five to ten years down the road when we have been running at one-hundred percent personnel who are highly trained and qualified. For now, we’ll continue to grow, participate and assist with the 7th Bomb Wing mission in any way that we can,” Heinz said.
| Date Taken: | 12.20.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 12.20.2016 14:11 |
| Story ID: | 218232 |
| Location: | DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 111 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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