Being a reservist requires ‘juggling act’

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Scott Elliott
  • Air Force Print News
WASHINGTON --  Recognizing that Air Force reservists must balance military obligations with family and civilian-employment requirements, the service’s senior reservist pledged to reduce unnecessary pressures.

“I want to say ‘thank you’ to families and employers -- they make great sacrifices in order for Reserve members to participate with us and do the things we ask of them,” said Lt. Gen. James E. Sherrard III, chief of Air Force Reserve and commander of Air Force Reserve Command.

“It’s a real juggling act for the reservist, who must do the things we ask, their employers and, most importantly, their families,” he said. “The sacrifices each of them (makes) in support of that Reserve member are very much appreciated.”

Although it is still too early to tell if the increased operational tempo caused by operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom will adversely effect retention, Sherrard said the Air Force Reserve is working on ways to ensure its airmen want to remain in uniform.

“What we need to do is work with each member to maximize their training opportunities in the time they have available so we don’t put undue pressure and excess requirements on them,” he said.

“It’s important for us to make sure we do that,” he said. “It helps the member in terms of achieving their training requirements, and it helps the Air Force in doing our missions daily,”

That goal may require the Air Force Reserve to do business in new ways, the general said.

“(We need to) make sure we have as efficient an operation as we can so that we maximize the time a member is with us and not put undue stress on them by having them come back for additional training due to some oversight or lack of planning on our part,” he said.

Sherrard said he is also working with senior Air Force leaders to review reservists’ entitlements and ensure mobilization predictability within the air and space expeditionary force construct.

“We have just over 14,000 members still activated,” he said. “We’re working with the combatant commanders and Air Staff to bring them home.”

Besides being concerned with reconstituting the readiness of his forces, Sherrard said he is committed to protecting Reserve airmen and their families from degraded benefits.

“We need to make certain we don’t do anything that puts them in a circumstance not befitting their service,” he said. “More importantly, we need to protect their families so we don’t have someone who loses medical coverage or has a real financial hardship … as they transition back into their civilian jobs.

“What we never want to lose sight of is that our members are volunteers,” he said. “We need to do everything humanly possible to provide the requisite benefits and protections for their families as they do the things that are asked of them.”