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NEWS | March 30, 2006

Virginia ANG begins integrating with 1st FW

By 2nd Lt. Rachel Sherburne 1st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

He wears BDU’s and looks just like any other maintainer working on a Raptor, but this Airman is very different from most others in the 27th Aircraft Maintenance Unit.

He is paid by the hour, reports to a different supervisor and has a 70-mile commute to and from Richmond to come to work everyday.

His name is Tech. Sgt. Scott Browning and he, along with about 60 other members of the 192nd Fighter Wing, Virginia Air National Guard, are working here as pilots, maintainers, fire rescuers, services and command post personnel.

“The 1st Fighter Wing and the 192nd Fighter Wing are integrating as an associate wing where both maintain separate administrative command but share aircraft and equipment and work functionally together to accomplish the same mission,” said Guard Maj. Pat DeConcini.

The 192nd will retain a separate administrative control of its own personnel, which allows the unit the discretion of hiring, firing, promotion, discipline, pay and leave. Integrating functionally with the 1st Fighter Wing means working together they will get the job done.

“We are all working together -- one force, one fight,” said Guard Tech. Sgt. Richard Jimenez.

“Our active duty supervisors are more than willing to work with our crew and accommodate our needs. We also return the favor by following Air Force core values and sharing our experience as prior service members with our active duty coworkers to get the job done,” he added.

The integration is at the top of the agenda for senior leaders.

“The future total force must not only be adaptable to today’s fight, but also tomorrow’s fight and equally adaptable to unknown applications. It must be seamless among the active duty, Guard and Reserve components,” said Gen. Michael Mosely, Air Force Chief of Staff.

The goal of the total force concept is to increase combat capability by capitalizing on the inherent strengths of the active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.

The benefits of integration include:

Increased Combat Capability

“Our integration combines experienced and dedicated Air National Guard manpower with our nation’s premier active duty fighter wing to provide unparalleled combat capability to the combatant commander,” said Lt. Col. Jim Cox, 192nd FW, Detachment 3 operations liaison.

Along with years of experience, guardsmen often bring a wealth of knowledge as well.

Honed Training and Skills

Sergeant Browning will be at Langley for another 15 years. His wealth of experience will be a great benefit when he helps train the hundreds of Airmen who will cycle in and out of Langley during that time.

“Adding our experience to a highly motivated force (the 1st Fighter Wing), who just may not have a lot of ‘wrench time,’ is invaluable,” said Sergeant Browning.

“The same can be said about the pilots,” added Colonel Cox, who said on active duty there are generally a lot of young pilots and not enough instructors, but this integration will add many Guard pilots who are all very experienced instructors.

Cost Savings

Combat capability at a significantly reduced price is what the Air National Guard represents to the American taxpayer.

Most traditional guardsmen, who make up about 70 percent of the 192nd FW, have “regular” civilian jobs. They fulfill their military duties by training one weekend each month, and two weeks each year.

But the Air Force doesn’t have to provide guardsmen with the same benefits or retirement as an active duty Airman. Many guardsmen served on active duty, but elected to pursue continued military service in the reserve component. The National Guard allows the Air Force to retain her most vital assets -- her highly trained people.

“Integrating saves you all the money and time it takes to produce an Airman with that same training and experience level,” said Major DeConcini, who added that it costs much more money to train a brand new Airman than it does to retain one who has already been trained.

Reduced Personnel Operations Tempo for 1st FW Members

More bodies to fill jobs means more people to help do the job. The guardsmen who integrate will also be able to fill deployment spots and help take the strain off of the squadrons and decrease personnel operations tempo.

“I deployed to Hill Air Force Base and will go to Elmendorf this summer as well,” said Sergeant Browning. “I stand ready and willing for any deployment, and I think all guardsmen have that mentality.”

Increased Benefits and Opportunity for 192nd Guardsmen

Those from Richmond are excited about having easy access to the facilities of a military base -- a commissary, an AAFES gas station -- but as guardsmen, they are also excited about working on the newest fighter in the Air Force inventory, something they has never done before.

This is the first time in history that the Guard has been equal partners from the beginning as we transition into a new weapons system, said then Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper.

“We’ve always envisioned flying and maintaining the newest and best fighter aircraft, and here we are,” said Senior Master Sgt. Michael Bouley, 192nd FW propulsion flight chief.
What does this mean for you?

When the nearly 1,000 Richmond guardsmen are fully integrated, Langley AFB will also be the home of the 192nd Fighter Wing.

The transformation started one year ago and will continue for another three years, as full integration is expected by September, 2009.

It’s been a long time coming and has a long way to go, but senior Air Force and wing leadership -- active duty and guard -- back this initiative 100 percent. Despite the differences between the active duty and guard, working together is paramount.

“It will no longer be ‘us’ guys and ‘those’ guys ... it will be ‘we’,” said Brig. Gen. Burton Field, 1st FW commander.