Posted on 03/03/2006 4:42:49 PM PST by SandRat
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- He wears a battle dress uniform and looks just like any other maintainer working on a F-22 Raptor, but this Airman is very different from most others in the 27th Aircraft Maintenance Unit here.
He is paid by the hour, reports to a different supervisor and has a 70-mile commute to and from Richmond to come to work every day.
His name is Tech. Sgt. Scott Browning. He, and 60 other members of the 192nd Fighter Wing, Virginia Air National Guard, work here as pilots, maintainers, fire rescuers, services and command post personnel.
“The 1st Fighter Wing and the 192nd Fighter Wing are integrating as an associate wing where both maintain separate administrative command but share aircraft and equipment and work functionally together to accomplish the same mission,” said Maj. Pat DeConcini.
The 192nd retains separate administrative control of its own personnel, which allows the unit the discretion of hiring, firing, promotion, discipline, pay and leave. Integrating functionally with the 1st Fighter Wing means working together they will get the job done.
“We are all working together – one force, one fight,” said Tech. Sgt. Richard Jimenez.
“Our active-duty supervisors are more than willing to work with our crew and accommodate our needs. We also return the favor by following Air Force core values and sharing our experience as prior service members with our active-duty coworkers to get the job done,” he said.
The integration is at the top of the agenda for senior leaders.
“The future total force must not only be adaptable to today’s fight, but also tomorrow’s fight and equally adaptable to unknown applications. It must be seamless among the active duty, Guard and Reserve components,” said Gen. T. Michael Mosely, Air Force chief of staff.
The goal of the total force concept is to increase combat capability by capitalizing on the inherent strengths of the active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.
The benefits of integration include:
Increased combat capability
“Our integration combines experienced and dedicated Air National Guard manpower with our nation’s premier active-duty fighter wing to provide unparalleled combat capability to the combatant commander,” said Lt. Col. Jim Cox, operations liaison for Detachment 3 of the 192nd FW.
Along with years of experience, guardsmen often bring a wealth of knowledge as well.
Honed training and skills
Sergeant Browning will be at Langley another 15 years. His experience will be a great benefit when he helps train the hundreds of Airmen who will cycle in and out of Langley during that time.
“Adding our experience to a highly motivated force (the 1st Fighter Wing), who just may not have a lot of ‘wrench time,’ is invaluable,” said Sergeant Browning.
“The same can be said about the pilots,” said Colonel Cox, who added there are generally a lot of young pilots and not enough instructors on active duty, but this integration will add Guard pilots who are all experienced instructors.
Cost savings
Combat capability at a significantly reduced price is what the Air National Guard represents to the American taxpayer.
Most traditional guardsmen, who make up about 70 percent of the 192nd FW, have “regular” civilian jobs. They fulfill their military duties by training one weekend each month, and two weeks each year.
But the Air Force doesn’t have to provide guardsmen with the same benefits or retirement as active-duty Airmen. Many guardsmen served on active duty but elected to pursue continued military service in the reserve component. The National Guard allows the Air Force to retain its most vital assets -- highly trained people.
“Integrating saves you all the money and time it takes to produce an Airman with that same training and experience level,” said Major DeConcini, who added that it costs much more money to train a brand new Airman than it does to retain one who has already been trained.
Reduced operations tempo for 1st FW Airmen
More bodies to fill jobs means more people to help do the job. The guardsmen who integrate will also be able to fill deployment spots and help take the strain off of the squadrons and decrease personnel operations tempo.
“I deployed to Hill Air Force Base (Utah) and will go to Elmendorf (AFB, Alaska) this summer as well,” Sergeant Browning said. “I stand ready and willing for any deployment and I think all guardsmen have that mentality.”
Increased benefits and opportunity for 192nd guardsmen
Those from Richmond are excited about having easy access to the facilities of a military base, but as guardsmen, they are also excited about working on the newest fighter in the Air Force inventory, something they have never done before.
This is the first time in history that the Guard has been equal partners from the beginning as we transition into a new weapons system, said then Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper.
“We’ve always envisioned flying and maintaining the newest and best fighter aircraft, and here we are,” said Senior Master Sgt. Michael Bouley, 192nd FW propulsion flight chief.
When the nearly 1,000 Richmond guardsmen are fully integrated, Langley AFB will also be the home of the 192nd Fighter Wing.
The transformation started one year ago and will continue for another three years, as full integration is expected by September 2009.
The National Guard is the WalMart of national defense.
Ok, I will bite...what do you mean?
Cheap and a-la-carte compared to the full-time regulars that cost the taxpayer much more.
I will be sure to post that in the ready room of my Reserve unit...at least we will all know that our work is "appreciated"
oh, how silly of me to forget the /sarc tag....
Absolutely it is. I did my 20, on AD, and in the ANG and AFR.
Suprised you haven't heard it-- it was a point of pride that those of us in the ANG did a better job than our AD counterparts (better maintained equipment and more experience) for less cost to the taxpayer.
Well, my apologies, because I thought you were being negative about it, but you are, not only correct, but also 100% in the know. Thanks for serving, and certainly thanks for paving the way for me and my fellow reservists.
no offense taken
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