Military

Naval Air Reserve Force (COMNAVAIRESFOR)

The mission of Naval Air Reserve Force is to support the Fleet with ready and fully integrated units, equipment and individuals throughout the full range of operations from peace to war.

The Naval Air Reserve Force is ranked among the best and most capable Air Forces in the world. Its 39 squadrons are equipped with the most modern aircraft and technology including the F/A-18 HORNET, EA-6B PROWLER, HH-60 SEAHAWK, P-3C (Update III) Orion, the C-130T transport and E-2C, among others. Reserve Maritime Patrol Aviation Squadrons have completed the transition from P-3B to all P-3C aircraft. The Navy's entire logistics airlift mission is flown by the Naval Reserve with a fleet that includes new C-20G and C-130T transport aircraft. Adversary squadrons have increased capability by using shared personnel assets from the other squadrons within the Reserve tactical airwing. Reserve combat search and rescue and naval special operations squadrons are mobilization ready. A Reserve airborne early warning squadron has accepted the counterdrug mission and deployed to tap aircrew skills for surge requirements.

Commander, Naval Air Reserve Force also commands various Naval Air Stations,Naval Air Facilities, Naval Air Reserve commands located throughout the United States. Naval Reserve Intelligence is also a part of the Naval Air Reserve Force. The Reserve Aviation Force, consisting of both Navy and Marine Reserve units, is an integral part of Naval Aviation. Highly skilled and dedicated citizen-Sailors provide a full-time capability in most of the same mission areas as their active duty counterparts. Training in front-line equipment, Reserve aviation units provide an "up and ready" warfighting capability - in whole or in part - from the first day of mobilization. A Reserve Air Wing (CVWR), a Reserve Helicopter Wing, two Reserve Patrol Wings and a Reserve Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) comprise the bulk of the reserve warfighting capability. One Fleet Logistics Support Wing rounds out the force structure and provides indigenous airlift support for the entire Navy.

On August 29, 1916, Congress passed the Naval Reserve Appropriations Act that established the Naval Reserve Flying Corps. Approximately seven months later, March 24, 1917, 12 students from Yale led by F. Trubee Davison (the Yale unit) volunteered enmasse to become what is recognized as the first Naval Air Reserve flying squadron. From that beginning, Naval Air Reservists have served in every crisis that has confronted the nation including World Wars I and II, Korea, the Berlin Airlift, Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm.

Today's Naval Air Reserve had its genesis in 1946 with the establishmentof the Naval Air Reserve Training Command, headquartered at Naval Air Station Glenview, Illinois. In 1973, the air and surface training commands were combined in New Orleans, Louisiana, under the Chief of Naval Reserve who reports directly to the Chief of Naval Operations. In 1983, the Naval Air Reserve Force was established as a separate command within the Naval Reserve Force structure and is directed from New Orleans by a Rear Admiral, Commander, Naval Air Reserve Force (COMNAVAIRESFOR).

The Naval Reserve has assumed 100 percent of the Helicopter Range Support for the Southern California Offshore Range and the Gulf of Mexico. Elements of Reserve helicopter combat rescue squadrons have augmented battle group capabilities on numerous deployments. With the decommissioning of the last Active component adversary squadron in March 1996, air adversary training now resides wholly within the Naval Reserve. Additionally, there has been increased Reserve participation on board tender ships, integrated undersea surveillance, and counterdrug operations. A dedicated E-2 squadron provides airspace control and surveillance for counterdrug operations. Naval Reserve P-3 crews have been instrumental in operations in support of Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico counterdrug narcotics operations, in UNITAS -- a joint exercise with South American navies -- and in numerous operations and exercises in the Western Pacific and North Atlantic. Additionally, the Naval Surface Reserve has deployed ships for numerous operations and exercises, including counterdrug, UNITAS, and the first reserve ship visit to a former Soviet Bloc country.

Support of UNITAS 38-97 involved components of each COMNAVAIRESFOR type wings and is indicative of what COMNAVAIRESFOR brings to the table for the Department of the Navy and of the OPTEMPO/PERSTEMPO relief provided the active force by taking up the slack that used to be there. COMFLELOGSUPWING, NALO and C-9/C-20/C-130 TEAM planned, scheduled and executed 44 missions, completing over 100 operational and logistics airlifts with 100 percent mission accomplishment. Squadrons transported over 350,000 pounds of cargo, mail and CASREP parts to nine South American countries and carried over 235 passengers to and from the theater. This support was critical as UNITAS units traveled 11,000 nautical miles over a five-month deployment circumnavigating South America, an area with no established DoD logistical or supply support.

    27       C-9 Skytrain IIs

      6       C-12B King Airs

      6       C-20 D/G Gulfstreams

    20       C-130T Hercules

Seven Reserve  Patrol  Wing  (VP) Squadrons

    48       P-3C Orions

Eight Carrier Air Wing Reserve (CVWR) Squadrons

      4       EA-6B Prowlers

    22       F-5 Tigers

    48       F/A-18 Hornets

      8      E-2C Hawkeyes

Six Helicopter Wing Reserve Squadrons

    18       HH-60H Sea Hawks

      8       UH-3 Sea Kings (Utility)

       8       MH-53E Sea Stallions
    12       SH-2G Super Seasprites
      4        SH-60F Seahawks