Guard 'patches' gap in support
Air Combat Command News
Release Date: 8/14/2003
By Tech. Sgt. Jim Fisher 55th Wing Public Affairs
8/18/2003 - OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (ACCNS) -- When America goes to war, guardsmen and Reservists work with active-duty airmen to bring the world's best Air Force to the fight, but this successful integration is not limited to the war-time setting.
Detachment 1 from the Nebraska Air National Guard has been sewn into the fabric of daily operations here, placing guardsmen alongside their active-duty counterparts at the 338th Combat Training Squadron and 55th Operations Support Squadron.
This integration, implemented to give the RC-135 Rivet Joint-focused 338th CTS and 55th OSS experienced instructor aircrew members and operations support personnel, has worked well, unit officials said, and is in the process of expanding.
"It's been awesome. We need experienced, rated flyers and people to develop plans, tactics, and training," said Lt. Col. Michael Carney, the 55th OSS commander. "Those kinds of people just don't exist in the flying squadrons right now. But we now have a tremendous amount of expertise (in the Air National Guard), and we brought that experience back through the integration."
With many active-duty aircrew members committed to operational missions, a shortfall of expertise developed in the areas of training and support, Colonel Carney said. Fortunately, the guard had this experience and the potential to recruit this expertise.
Armed with lessons learned from previous integrations at other locations, the commanders established the program last summer for a limited number of positions.
"We had the advantage of learning from their mistakes," Colonel Carney said.
They were convinced the integration would meet their needs. "The mix of the guard members in the squadrons has been totally seamless," he said.
The program has worked so well, Det. 1 plans to create a squadron at Offutt.
The relationship has been just as helpful to the Air National Guard, said Lt. Col. Rick Evans, the Det. 1 commander.
"Our involvement in the 55th Wing has been beneficial to our members for a number of reasons," Colonel Evans said. "It's given (the 55th and 338th) continuity and experience, and we have new full-time employment opportunities for our rated officers and enlisted members."
The integration has also opened up more part-time positions for prior-service members looking to stay with the Air Force and to serve in a different capacity. On a larger scale, it's allowed the NEANG to diversify its force structure, now supporting two separate Air Force missions for two major commands at two locations.
While the detachment is smaller than NEANG's other major unit, the 155th Air Refueling Wing in Lincoln, Neb., the unit is growing, Colonel Evans said.
"In 2003, Congress provided additional resources to the ANG to robust the guard detachment at Offutt. That's what sparked the growth the unit is experiencing now," he said.
Det. 1 has grown from 21 to 51 overall positions this year and has diversified to include more support and enlisted positions, Colonel Evans said. The unit expansion is expected to top out at about 80 positions, with 35 being full-time. Several full-time members have also deployed to support their active-duty counterparts.
"Some of the positions have already been filled. Our recruiters in Lincoln are busy finding candidates to fill the vacancies," Colonel Evans said.
The expansion is also expected to change the dimension of the unit, with Det. 1 becoming an operations support squadron in September.
The guardsmen and active-duty members are effectively one unit, said Lt. Col. Will Hampton, the 338th Squadron commander.
"With the infusion, you can't tell the guardsmen from the active duty - the only difference is the patch on their shoulder," Colonel Hampton said.
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