Reserve unit takes ‘active’ role at Ramstein

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Caryn Gardenhire
  • 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio (AFPN) --  An air and space expeditionary force rotation to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, turned into a mission to move people and pallets of cargo to numerous airfields around the world, including battle-damaged runways in Iraq.

In January, more than 200 activated reservists and six C-130 Hercules aircraft from the 910th Airlift Wing here took the lead role in the 38th Airlift Squadron (Provisional), which supports Operation Joint Forge. The squadron is part of a NATO-led stabilization force supporting peacekeeping operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

About 100 mobilized airmen of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd AW and four of their C-130s joined forces with the Air Force Reserve Command unit to make up the Ramstein-based squadron, which is also known as the Delta Squadron.

“The mission has gone really well. Our guys have repeatedly demonstrated their proficiency and experience to their active-duty counterparts,” said Lt. Col. Daryl Hartman, director of operations for the 38th AS (P) and the 757th AS. The 757th is one of two flying squadrons assigned to the 910th AW.

“When an active-duty C-130 was experiencing radar problems in Iraq, the 37th Airlift Squadron (from Ramstein) asked if any of our aircrews at Constanta, Romania, were qualified to lead their aircraft out,” Hartman said. “I said all four of them were qualified, which shocked them because they don’t have that many lead qualified crews. So, one of our crews led their airplane out.”

In April, the Delta Squadron received the Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe Award of Excellence for the combined contributions of Reserve, National Guard and active-duty C-130 people during critical command missions under hostile conditions.

From March 11 to May 26, the squadron flew 909 sorties, carried 4,384 passengers and airlifted 2,426 tons of cargo.

“The best thing about this activation is the mission,” Hartman said. “We’re running combat operations out of two theaters (Iraq and Bosnia/Kosovo) at the same time, which doesn’t happen very often. We’re keeping the crews busy, and they’re getting a lot of good experience.”

None of the Delta Squadron airmen forgets this is a team effort, he said.

“Everybody is working extremely hard to make sure we get our part done,” said Maj. Bill Whittenberger, a Delta Squadron pilot. “It seems as though we get all the attaboys and pats on the back, but really there’s no way we’re going anywhere without the work of everybody here.

“Since I’ve been here in Germany, I haven’t experienced any late takeoffs or lost sorties,” he said. “As far as maintenance goes, every single time I’ve stepped out to my plane, I can get (in) it and pretty much start it and go.”

The maintenance mission is labor intensive, according to Chief Master Sgt. David Weaver, chief of maintenance for the 38th AS (P).

“We are exceeding quantity without sacrificing quality, which can be measured by flying hours,” he said. “So far there have been only two maintenance cancellations. The people here are making it happen.”

Tech. Sgt. David Sills, aircraft fuels systems repair section chief with Ramstein’s 86th AW, said he is “very impressed” with the maintenance, leaders and management skills of the reservists.

“They’re not afraid to get their hands dirty,” said Sills. “With the drawback on the active-duty side and the way the Guard and Reserve (airmen) have picked up the slack due to the operations tempo, it’s to a point now where a person can’t tell the difference between the active duty and Reserve anymore.” (Courtesy of AFRC News Service)