Reservists and active duty form "75.6" Flying Squadron

  • Published
  • By Captain Denise Haeussler
  • 442d Fighter Wing
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  In today's changing world, Base Realignment and Closure for the military is on a lot of servicemembers' minds with the draw down in Iraq and Afghanistan. One A-10 Thunderbolt II Air Force Reserve unit in particular saw it possibly looming on their horizon, but they found ways to adapt and overcome.

The 476th Fighter Group at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia, a geographically separated unit of the 442d Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Warrensburg, Missouri, heard rumblings of BRAC heading towards them due to the presidential budget of fiscal year 2012-2013.

"The presidential budget announcement created a risk of closure. As a fighter group, we knew to just take care of our people so they could take care of the mission," said Col. James Travis, 476th FG commander. "We alleviated much of the sense of anxiety by bringing in Air Force Reserve Command pros to talk about relocation benefits and regional job options.  Mostly we made sure 'worry' wasn't the primary conversational topic."

When most of the active duty from the 75th Fighter Squadron deployed down range in early 2014, the 476th FG showed their importance to the mission and Total Force Integration. The Reserve unit stepped in to lead the home station operation in addition to deploying assets.  As a result, the 75th FS and the 476th FG, active duty and Reserve units, combined to create 75.6."

Chief Master Sgt. Jamie Cornelia said it was seamless and easy when the units came together to work as one.
 
"We already had a good working relationship because we were used to working together on a regular basis, but we were two separate units," said Cornelia. "This mission of providing close air support to air and ground troops made the relationship solid."

The 76th FS is a classic associate squadron fully integrated with the 75th FS where the aircraft belongs to the active duty and the Reserve personnel fill key roles in and out of the aircraft.

"During 75.6 I gave credit to the active duty for accepting us as part of their team," said Cornelia. "They let us play in their sandbox with their tools."

"This mission was different," said Staff Sgt. Steve Grenat, a 476th maintenance squadron crew chief. "On a normal basis, the mission is run by the active duty because it's their aircraft.  It was great being able to change it up, have Reserve leadership and still be able to uphold and accomplish the mission with the limited manning we had."

According to Grenat, they were not limited in manpower, but limited in experience.  When this mission was handed to them, they had a lot of young Airmen who had just graduated from technical school, and were brand new to the job.

"It turned into a fantastic training opportunity," said Grenat.

"We hit the ground running harder than we expected," said Senior Airman Najee Christopher, a 476th FG aircraft electrician. "It was a great way to erase the stigma of Reservists, and it was also a proving ground to turn what I learned in school to hands-on experience."

The 75.6 generated and flew 645 sorties and 1,188.4 hours, completing 37 upgrades in six months. The squadron accepted, trained, and deployed five additional pilots for the 75th FS deployment. The aircraft maintenance unit production and statistics were strong across the board with an 87.8 percent mission capability rate; a 9.1 sortie utilization rate; a repeat recur rate of 1.5 percent and an improved fixed rate of 9.1 percent.

They cut non-mission capability by 26.7 percent; sustained a total non-mission capable supply of 3.7 percent, and increased aircraft availability by 11.8 percent. The unit did not lose a single line for operations and maintenance non-delivery or abort for the first four months of the deployment.  They lost a total of only three lines for maintenance the entire seven months.  During this same time period, the unit achieved a spotless Unit Effectiveness Inspection.

Along with such success during a deployment and a nearly flawless inspection, the 476 FG Medical Detachment is second to none.

According to Lt. Col. Wright, MD commander, the detachment is the best in AFRC for flu shot statistics; they are accomplished at nearly 100 percent.

"If people don't show up for their flu shot, we bring it to them," said Wright. "We pulled an Airman out a class he was in to administer the shot. "

"We show a genuine care for our people," said the doctor who practices family medicine in his civilian life. "I strive to be at every PT test on the UTA so if an Airman needs medical attention, I can do an on the spot assessment.  It saves the government thousands of dollars because with me there, we don't have to call an ambulance."

Travis said he would like to build on the "75.6," medical, and UEI success of 2014 as the unit moves into 2015.

"I would like to see us perfecting the TFI partnership through inspections and deployments," he said. "There is a footprint of talent here, and I want us to build back up to get ready to deploy again in the fall. We are a well-oiled team that held together through a difficult time."

"Our job is to make sure that when that 911 call comes in, day or night, we need to answer it and answer it well.  Our manpower is coming back and we are hiring," said Travis.