18th AF commander visits, sees AF Reserve, 'Combat 'Roos' firsthand

Lt. Col. Carlos Ortiz (center) discusses the challenges and benefits of the Air Force's ongoing Total Force Initiative May 20 with Lt. Col. Patrick Schlichenmeyer (left) and Maj. Jason Sanderson after the arrival of Lt. Gen. Robert Allardice, 18th Air Force commander, to Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. General Allardice visited the Air Force Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing to gain a greater knowledge of its partnered flying and maintenance operations under the Air Force's ongoing Total Force Initiative. The TFI program led to the October 2009 re-activation of the 52nd Airlift Squadron "Combat Kangaroos," an Active Duty C-130 flying and maintenance squadron that works side-by-side with AF Reservists to support C-130 Hercules operations. Colonel Ortiz is the 52nd AS commander, while Colonel Schlichenmeyer is the squadron's director of operations. Major Sanderson is an Active Duty standardization/evaluation officer with the 302nd Operations Group. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ann Skarban)