Photo By Senior Airman Brooke Keisler | U.S. Air Force Airmen deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy, pose for a photo May 25,...... read more read more
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AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy – In the face of rapidly changing mission sets due to global events, several bases throughout U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, including squadrons from the 31st Fighter Wing, find themselves executing real-world and training operations at a faster pace to support the increased mission demands.
The Agile Combat Employment strategy focuses on developing multi-capable Airmen who can execute various missions, but an augmentation force through the Air Force’s Request for Forces program provides Airmen who stand at the ready to sustain the USAFE mission and provide further force flexibility.
“The RFF members are here to support the units within the 31st FW to sustain the home station mission,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Rachael Bradley Powers, 31st Logistics Readiness Squadron director of operations. “They will be integrating into their respective squadrons to become a part of the Wyverns. They are trained and qualified Airmen that jump into units and sections just like they are their own and assist where needed.”
The U.S. maintains significant numbers of combat-capable forces across Europe. They exist to deter aggression and, if deterrence fails, stand shoulder-to-shoulder with NATO Allies.
In order for Aviano AB to continue supporting these increased deterrence missions, RFF Airmen augment the wing’s capability to support USAFE, EUCOM, and NATO missions.
“Aviano continues to support USAFE as a whole to ensure we keep everyone safe,” said Bradley Powers. “The RFF members are able to support the missions Aviano is supporting all over Europe.”
The RFF members are deployed inside the 31st Contracting Squadron, 31st Communications Squadron, 31st Comptroller Squadron, 31st LRS, 31st Medical Group and 31st Operational Support Squadron to augment their missions.
A few RFF members are accomplishing completely different operations as they assist their new unit, such as U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Geoffrey Moshier, 341st LRS plans and integration section chief. While deployed, Moshier is the 31st LRS’s Installation Deployment Readiness Cell augmentee. His plans and integration background helps bring a different point of view to support the team.
“I’m essentially a part of this unit for that period,” said Moshier. “I bring in a fresh set of eyes from a different major command with different perspectives and ideas. Bringing all these capabilities from diverse areas is beneficial to my new unit because it helps accomplish different processes and procedures.”
Some RFF members are completing the same mission sets while deployed that they fulfill at their home station. They get to bring their familiar training to a brand new, highly operational environment.
“We’re deployed to Aviano to help generate their mission by maintaining the trucks,” said Tech. Sgt. Kevin Carroll, 349th LRS fuels east operation section chief. “We’re trained up on everything and they can move us to different operations as needed. As of now their distribution element needs the bodies so that’s where we are because the jets don’t stop flying.”
RFF Airmen continue to contribute their time and effort towards one united goal: sustain the home station mission. They achieve this goal by helping Aviano AB achieve its goals.
“These members help the Aviano mission to succeed,” said Bradley Powers. “Aviano has a wide breadth of responsibility within NATO and these RFF members have allowed us to continue to go where we are needed, while continuing to keep the mission at Aviano going.”
Each RFF member successfully integrated into their respective units and they look forward to what lies ahead during their time with the 31st FW.
“The teams here are phenomenal, from the leadership all the way down to the shops,” said Moshier. “I've spoken with a lot of the RFF members on our way out here, and they're excited to be out here and have a different mission set for a bit. It's obviously very different from a traditional deployment. It's not often that you're going to a full traditional Air Force Base as a deployment so it’s a very unique opportunity.”
| Date Taken: | 06.13.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 06.16.2022 09:32 |
| Story ID: | 422768 |
| Location: | AVIANO AIR BASE, IT |
| Web Views: | 144 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Air Force members deploy to Aviano to support mission, by SrA Brooke Keisler, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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