Photo By Staff Sgt. Eunique Stevens | Lt. Col. Nathan Brauner, 52nd Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron commander, speaks...... read more read more
KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE, Iraq -- Lt. Gen. Charles Stenner Jr., Air Force Reserve Command commander, could see no differences between the Airmen of different components when he visited here April 9 and 10 as part of a multi-base tour in Southwest Asia.
Weeks after addressing the Senate on AFRC priorities, including broadening total force initiatives, the general was impressed with how integrated the deployed Airmen are here.
"Right here in Kirkuk, you can see it. Whether it's Security Forces or it's the aviation piece or the training that's going on with the Iraqi air force, this is done by [regular Air Force, Reserve and Air National Guard Airmen]," he said. "They are seamlessly integrated on this installation and accomplishing that mission because that is how we organize, train and equip as an Air Force," he said.
The general said Airmen can integrate and perform the same missions in the same locations because the Air Force trains to the same standards and with the same equipment.
One active-duty Airman from the 506th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, Tech Sgt. David Vanschaick, said he was surprised to learn about the integration in his work area.
"After already serving the start of my deployment, I had no idea I was working with a group mostly made of Reservists," said Sergeant Vanschaick, deployed from Eglin AFB, Fla. The Ridgefield, Conn., native said he would not have guessed his fellow Airman's component by the way the Reservists carry themselves - as seasoned professionals.
Even with the smooth integration, there are variations. The Total Force concept puts together folks who are coming from three different cultures and "each of them has their strengths," General Stenner said. The Air Force must understand and acknowledge the cultural differences between these components, he said.
By "leveraging the goodness [of the cultures] ... and working together to understand each other," the Air Force will have an increased, solid capability, he said.
At a guard mount General Stenner visited, a Reservist with the 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron shared her views about working with active-duty and Guard members.
"The Air Force is a melting pot of ethics," said Senior Airman Janet Davis, from Keelser AFB, Miss. "You can learn a lot from your counterparts - One Team, One Fight," the Mobile, Ala., native added.
Describing the roles Airmen have on that team, the general said active-duty service members bring immediate access to the mission. When combined with Reserve and Guard component units, additional experience and surge capacity are added to the fight.
"The synergy that comes from this gives us a better mission capability to deliver to the warfighter, which is ultimately what we are trying to do," he said.
| Date Taken: | 04.14.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 04.14.2009 03:19 |
| Story ID: | 32357 |
| Location: | KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE, IQ |
| Web Views: | 408 |
| Downloads: | 366 |
This work, Air Force Reserve Command commander addresses deployed Airman on Total Force concept, by SSgt Jessica Lockoski, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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