Reserve C-130 Special Mission Units learn from each other

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Daniel Butterfield
  • 302nd Airlift Wing
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  Although the missions of aerial firefighting, aerial spraying and hunting hurricanes are different, they have enough in common to learn from each other. This was the focus of the second day of the Air Force Reserve C-130 Special Mission conference here Jan 13.

"This [conference] came about by looking at these three missions and some of the similarities we have in operations and issues. By sharing what each unit does really well we can pool our knowledge and learn from each other," said Lt. Col. David Condit, Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System program manager for the 302nd Airlift Wing, and the conference coordinator. "We found we have some overlapping issues affecting the way we do our atypical missions."

The 302nd AW aerial firefighting unit, the hurricane hunters from the 403rd Wing, Keesler AFB, Miss., and aerial spray members from the 910th Airlift Wing, Youngstown Air Reserve Base, Ohio, met to discuss their key lessons from recent missions and plans for the future of these atypical missions.

"Anytime you can learn from your peers, it's a good thing," said Thomas LaCrosse, Director of Defense Support of Civil Authorities in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and America's Security Affairs. "I think there are some differences, and some lessons learned in conducting these operations that can inform the other units and expand the overall knowledge and experience of these units."

One thing these Reserve units do have in common is even though they are fully capable military units, each special mission is non-military in nature. They help fight fires with the Forest Service, perform weather reconnaissance in support of the Department of Commerce and control mosquito populations and disperse oil spills.

"From the office of the secretary of defense perspective these are vital missions where the department of defense supports civilian authorities," said Mr. LaCrosse.

Another commonality each of these missions is they are carried out by highly trained and experienced Air Force Reservists.

"These wings are manned and staffed with Citizen Airmen, who have jobs in their local communities, Monday through Friday, they come out on the weekends, or come out when they are called to perform these missions. They are an incredible bargain for the U.S. taxpayer and every bit as capable as their active duty counterpart even though they do it on a part-time basis," said Maj. Gen. James Rubeor, commander, Air Force Reserve Command's 22nd Air Force.

Many of the lessons focused on improving processes and policies. While the way ahead focused on improving the mission effectiveness through better policies, training and equipment.

"Military support to civil authorities has become a complex operation. It's important for us to bring experts from these specialized missions together to talk about what works and what doesn't as well as what needs to be improved," said General Rubeor. "Our Reservists never lose sight of the fact that they play a supporting role to our nation's Defense Support to Civil Authorities missions. Local directors of emergency management will work to bring these assets of their community to bear and to integrate the assets of nearby communities through mutual-aid agreements as quickly as possible in the time of need."

While there was a lot of information shared amongst the units, currently there are no plans to meet again.

"There are several issues that came out of this conference. So we are going to work those issues over the course of the next year, and we'll take a look and see if it's worthwhile to come together again. I'm in favor of it," said General Rubeor.