Photo By Staff Sgt. LAUSANNE KINDER | Senior Airman Austin Fifield, 414th Maintenance Squadron avionics system technician,...... read more read more
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. - A total of 10 reservists from the 414th Maintenance Squadron, from Seymour Johnson, North Carolina, have been integrated with the 366th Maintenance Group, Mountain Home, Idaho, since January of this year.
Their task is to fulfill roles in multiple maintenance sections to ensure the mission continues on seamlessly despite low manning due to separations, deployments or permanent changes of station.
“With the drawbacks the Air Force has had to face, we’re still expected to keep up the same tempo with less people,” said Master Sgt. Jerry Duck, 391st Aircraft Maintenance Unit specialist section chief. “They [the 414th] have relieved a lot of stress and pressure which is crucial.”
Master Sgt. Jared Ralphs, 366th Equipment Maintenance Squadron phase section chief, agreed.
"Despite being 'young' in terms of time in service, they've been open to do anything and everything that is tasked to them," said Ralphs.
The 366th Maintenance Group continues to receive in-coming active duty Airmen, but the majority have come straight from their initial technical training schools.
"We get new Airmen but they still need to be trained," said Ralphs. "The transition [with the 414th MXS members] was almost seamless."
Total Force Integration capitalizes on the unique strengths of both active and reserve Airmen and enhances the Air Force's ability to conduct missions by sharing resources, aircraft, crews and support.
The positive impact the reservists have had on the active duty units goes both ways.
Ralphs indicated that the active duty side is receiving much needed manning assistance while the reservists gain experience and career broadening.
Staff Sgt. Stephen Young, 414th Maintenance Squadron crew chief, typically works on the flighline at home station but is supporting the 366th EMS phase section.
"I didn't even know there was a 'phase section' at first," said Young. "I've learned so much about different aspects of my job that I previously didn't have any experience with."
In addition to his primary duties, Young has taken advantage of resources the base and the unit has to offer by completing both his Community College of the Air Force degree and his 7-level upgrade training.
"My section chiefs here assisted me with getting scheduled to take my [End of Course] test for my 7-Level upgrade training," said Young. "They performed the necessary competency reviews with me and made sure I had sufficient study time in preparation."
Young and the other members from the 414th MXS have been grateful for the continued service and care they have received from their host units to include munitions, engines, weapons, and avionics, all of which play an integral role in mission completion.
“I honestly didn’t think that one person could make a difference but it has. They came in here like they've been here forever and have been a part of the family forever," said Duck. "They're 'fire and release' kind of guys as we like to call them, you give them a job and they go and get it done the first time."
Although the personnel from Seymour Johnson are nearing their return home in the next couple of weeks, the units they've temporarily been assigned to have already requested additional support. The 414th MXS will be providing five personnel for an upcoming deployment.
"They are definitely making a big impact on us… it was absolutely the right decision to send them out here," said Duck. "We really appreciate having their help."
| Date Taken: | 06.01.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.16.2015 20:23 |
| Story ID: | 166841 |
| Location: | LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, AZ, US |
| Hometown: | GOLDSBORO, NC, US |
| Hometown: | MOUNTAIN HOME, ID, US |
| Hometown: | MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, ID, US |
| Hometown: | SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 42 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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