Guard, British officers exchange views

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Bob Oldham
  • 189th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. (AFPN) --  An Arkansas Air National Guard officer and a Royal Auxiliary Air Force warrant officer participated recently in an exchange officer program to help further cement the relationship between the two countries' air Reserve forces. 

For Maj. Dom Sarnataro, a 154th Training Squadron pilot, the National Guard Bureau program was a great opportunity to learn first-hand about one of America's premier allies. 

The major visited RAF Brize Norton, which is near Oxford, Sept. 2 to 16. The major spent his first week in England in briefings, explaining to his hosts how the Air National Guard fits into the U.S. Air Force's role of defending the nation. He explained how the Guard works for a governor of a state and can be federalized to work for the president during a national emergency. He also received briefings about how the RAF Auxiliary fits into England's defense role. 

His second week was spent taking in cultural events around the country to get a better feel for society and local issues that affect those who call England home. 

Warrant Officer Matt Dillon, a movements specialist, visited Little Rock AFB Sept. 17 to 30. The warrant officer belongs to the RAF Auxiliary's 4624 Movements Squadron. 

Movements squadrons are similar to Air Force aerial port squadrons in that they prepare cargo for shipment, manage hazardous material paperwork and conduct load planning, but they don't rig cargo for airdrop. 

During his visit, he met with the 189th Airlift Wing's senior leaders, toured the wing's aerial port flight, flew on a night sortie and watched an airdrop mission. Culturally, Warrant Officer Dillon said he made time to visit Memphis' Beale Street in Tennessee, and Arkansas' Ozark Mountains and Greers Ferry Lake. 

Despite being brothers in arms, the major and the warrant officer noted some differences in the way their countries manage their Reserve forces. 

Perhaps the biggest difference between the two country's Reserve forces is RAF Auxiliary members don't receive a pension after they retire from service. Essentially, they work for their pay, but there is no retirement when they finally hang up their uniform at the end of their career. In the Air National Guard, members receive pay for duty performed and a retirement check at age 60 based on points accrued over the years in uniform. 

Another difference is RAF Auxiliary members can only be called to duty for two weeks at a time, according to British law. 

Air Guard members can be called to state active duty at the governor's request for an unlimited amount of time or to federal active duty at the president's request for up to two years per mobilization. 

Additionally, RAF Auxiliary members don't enjoy the same level of support from their civilian employers that Reserve members in America enjoy. 

Because their military career is seen as a hobby by some employers in England, RAF Auxiliary members have to be careful how often they put on their uniform for a tour of duty, Warrant Officer Dillon said. 

Here in the United States, Reserve component members enjoy the support of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve organization and several laws aimed at protecting a Guardsman's or reservist's civilian employment rights.