Military

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (USAFENS) - The 'total force' muscle is showing it's strength throughout U.S. Air Forces in Europe as Air Force Reservists and Air National Guardsman answer the call of duty along side their active-duty counterparts, preparing for a possible war with Iraq.

Although the number varies on a daily basis, the ANG currently has approximately 1,800 members and more than 60 aircraft supporting the USAFE command; and reservists have close to another 30 planes and nearly 1,000 members helping to move troops, equipment and cargo as the buildup for possible war continues, said Col. Roger Clements, Air National Guard advisor to the USAFE commander.

"These numbers are increasing consistent with current world events, and they're changing every day," Clements said.  "The reason why we have so much activity in USAFE is because we're force posturing ourselves to forward locations.  Because of USAFE's strategic geographical location the command serves as a  forward location, and as a replenishment point for  resources moving towards Southwest Asia.   This requires significant airlift and refueling capabilities; two of the Air Reserve Components primary assets."

Assets they are, as the air bridge and other support operations press on.  The airlift community has nearly 75 percent of the C-130 fleet, and more than 50 percent of the airframe refueling assets in the Guard and Reserves.

"This alone, helps to illustrate the point how when the we start to forward deploy troops, we have to immediately begin to tap our guard and reserve folks; they have so much force structure," he said.

And this force build up is taking everyone's help across the board of Air Force specialties within the ARC, said Col. Denny Jobes, Headquarters USAFE reserve program manager.

"We are looking over the full spectrum of Air Force specialties, and from all of our units," she said.  "These groups aren't coming from any specific state or base, because they're basically scattered throughout the different units.  Everyone's actively engaged.

"It's built on requirements," Jobes continued.  "There are some exceptions, but by and large, our units are pulled to source requirements that the active duty force identifies.  It may be a whole unit, a piece of one or it can even be one person, based on the requirements."

And these requirements are the driving force for the huge ANG and Reserve contingency used here in USAFE.

"Guard and Reserve forces are being utilized on the air bridge, as airlifters, utilizing our C-5, C-141, and C-130 fleet to carry cargo and people," Clements said.  "And also as air refuelers, providing trans-oceananic and Mediterranean refueling using KC-135s and KC-10s.  

"Our bases in Europe provide a mid-point to many of our forward operating locations," Clements continued.  "So, our air refuelers handle the refueling to get here, and again provide support between the mid-way point and the final destination. Also, fighter aircraft are postured in various locations and ARC Rescue HC-130s and HH-60s are in place ready if needed."

It's exactly this type of 'total force' team work and support that ensures the mission at hand is accomplished.

"Combatant commanders have frequently said, 'we couldn't do the mission without the guard and reserve,'" Clements said.  "The troops in the field are just as aware of that.  We have inner-operability, train to the same standards and get evaluated by the same standards; we work as a team - we are one team."

And the teamwork will continue, Jobes agreed.

"The more we build up forces, the more that by circumstance, the Air Force and USAFE will rely on, and involve, guard and reserve forces," she said.  "Utilizing the guard and reserve allows the Air Force to sustain what we have.  With the kind of operations tempo and build up we're maintaining, we have to use all of our assets.  When you walk into a room, you can't tell who is active duty, guard or reserve  - it's total force.  Everybody knows the mission, and everyone's dedicated to getting it done."

-- USAFENS --