New Squadron stands up at Keesler

Published Aug. 9, 2010
By Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens
403rd Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- In a ceremony held here today at the Roberts Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Facility, the 345th Airlift Squadron was officially re-activated as an active associate unit to the 403rd Wing.

Reservists from the 815th AS and 403rd Maintenance Group have partnered with their active-duty counterparts from the 345th AS as part of the Air Force's total force integration initiative. The TFI initiative not only provides active-duty and reserve members with the opportunity to work and train together, but also helps reduce operational costs to the taxpayers.

The 345th AS is the first C-130J active associate unit in the Air Force and the third active associate unit to activate under its parent wing, the 19th Airlift Wing from Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.

Within the next few months, the 345th AS will integrate 112 aircraft maintenance, operations and support personnel with the 403rd WG's Citizen Airmen.

"The active-duty operations personnel have been great to work with," said Lt. Col. Denson Tutwiler, 815th AS commander. "They understand the Citizen Airman. Some of them have backgrounds in strategic airlift, so they have worked with Reservists in the past."

The 345th AS's new commander, Lt. Col. Craig Williams, echoed the importance of the working relationship between Citizen Airmen and active-duty personnel. "Establishing and maintaining an excellent working relationship is paramount," Col. Williams said. "There are some areas where we both need to learn and understand the culture in which we work. Once that is accomplished, all things are possible, just like in any other unit."

Chief Master Sgt. Vincent Armata, 403rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron superintendent, stressed the importance of seamlessly integrating the active-duty and reserve members.

He said that "the bottom line with total force integration is to train together and ensure that the deployment package is manned with people who have the right skill sets to accomplish the mission."

Master Sgt. Mark Palmer, 345th AS tactical flight chief, reiterated Chief Armata's position on blending the active-duty and Reserve units.

"We're as deeply integrated as you can get. There is no split," Sergeant Palmer said. "You walk into any section down here and you're going to see active duty and Reservists all working together doing the same job."

Colonel Williams noted one benefit in particular that both units can gain from total force integration: experience.

"The 345th personnel as a whole do not have extensive background on the C-130J, with a few exceptions," said Colonel Williams. "We have maintainers from a variety of backgrounds, like F-15 and F-16, and we also have C-5 and C-17 loadmasters here and inbound. They need to learn the J-model now, something they can readily pick up from the 403rd due to their experience on this airframe."

Colonel Tutwiler noted the added benefits of the Air Force's total force integration initiative.

"The Air Force realized they could get much greater utilization from their aircraft by integrating active duty with Reserve and Guard units," said Colonel Tutwiler. "Adding active-duty personnel will allow the 403rd WG to create more maintenance shifts and launch more aircraft. This truly is a case where the sum of the parts is greater than the whole."

Capt. Joe Knable from the 19th Airlift Wing public affairs office contributed to this article.

Lt. Col. Craig Williams assumes command of the 345th Airlift Squadron.