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VR-64 Active, Reserve Sailors Support Pakistani Earthquake Relief

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS051109-04
Release Date: 11/9/2005 1:06:00 PM

By Journalist 2nd Class Cassandra Thompson, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs

FUJAIRAH, United Arab Emirates (NNS) -- A detachment of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VR) 64, based in Willow Grove, Pa., continues to support the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) humanitarian aid mission to Pakistan.

Having been deployed to Bahrain since September in support of NAVCENT, VR-64 has flown numerous missions delivering supplies to Pakistan for the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck the region Oct. 8.

Unlike most Navy squadrons, the fleet’s logistic squadrons are a completely integrated mix of selected reserve members and active-duty personnel.

“It’s about 50 percent active-duty and 50 percent reservist,” said Cmdr. Chris Thomson, officer in charge of the detachment in Bahrain. Thomson, a reserve member of VR-64, reported to Bahrain Oct. 31 on a 23-day annual training mission.

Active/Reserve Integration (ARI) has been promoted throughout the Navy as an important means of accomplishing the overall mission of the fleet.

VR-64 was established in September 2004, when the squadron transitioned from P-3 aircraft to C-130T aircraft. Thomson, from Boston, Mass., said the reservists had become used to P-3s, and initially relied on their active-duty counterparts to bring them up to speed with C-130 aircraft.

Loadmaster Aviation Electronics Technician Antonio Smith is an active duty crew member of VR-64’s Bahrain detachment. He said the reservists in his squadron worked extra hours and came in on their civilian days off to get qualified on the C-130 aircraft.

“Some people spent the better half of their careers with P-3s. When we transitioned, it was like starting from scratch,” he said. “I give them credit for what they do, having to work every day at their civilian jobs, then coming in on their days off to get their quals. I’m really proud of the ones that I work with.”

Smith, who said a crew typically deploys to Bahrain with at least one or two reserve members, said he would not exchange his time with the reservists in his squadron for anything.

“You meet some real characters,” he said. “It’s fun working with them.”