Reserve, Guard leaders speak at AFA convention

WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Both the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard's top leaders spoke to attendees of the Air Force Association's Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 26.

Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, Air Force Reserve Command commander, and Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley, Air National Guard director, spoke highly of the Airmen within their commands, as well as the challenges of a high-operations tempo, base closure and realignment changes and integration with the Total Force.

"We are the unrivaled wingmen," said General Bradley during his workshop. "We are always, without fail, there to support the force."

He emphasized that the Reserve is no different than the active-duty force. 

"We want to make sure everyone knows that there is no separate culture," he said. "We are all involved in the same missions."

The Reserve depends on volunteerism in lieu of mobilization when it comes to deployments. He said having set Air Expeditionary Force deployment standards helps.

"People are able and ready before they go on a deployment," he said. "They are able to plan for it, and that employing the (AEF) system was a brilliant idea."

He talked about the closing of the Reserve base and wing in Milwaukee and about it's move to Pope Air Force Base, N.C.

"It's going to make a big impact in that area," he said. "The Reserve doesn't PCS folks, and so we're looking for ways to help these folks find jobs, maybe join the Guard if they still want to serve. We want to give them options to continue their careers."

The Reserve also will be losing Airmen due to force shaping. More than 7,000 Airmen will leave their ranks.

"We're not happy about the cuts," said General Bradley. "It's painful. But it has to be done."

As for the Air National Guard, General McKinley said that while they won't need to cut Airmen from the Guard, the force was adversely affected by the base realignment and closure process. 

"We have (air) fields that are closing," he said. "It's a challenging time." 

He said many of the Airmen in the Air Guard were raised within those hometown organizations.

"We have Airmen whose father's father served in their (Guard) unit," said General McKinley. "There's a lot of heritage, blood, sweat and tears there, and so when it comes time to close a field, people do get emotional about it."

But despite the hardship, the Guard will carry on, as it has "a heritage of change," he said. "We have an interesting culture and it's always busy."

He spoke of the force's two missions: one abroad and the other on the home front. The integration between the Air Guard and active-duty Airmen has been seamless.

"What finer example is there than of the bombing of (terrorist) Abu Musab al-Zarqawi?" he asked. "Those were Guard pilots up there, but they were up there because of support from active-duty and Reserve Airmen, not to mention alongside other services. It was truly a joint effort, and a successful one."