2004 Airlift/Tanker Association convention convenes
by Capt. Jeffrey M. Bishop
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
10/29/2004 - DALLAS (AFPN) -- Signifying the tremendous role that reserve forces play in the air mobility mission, the leaders of the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve kicked off the 2004 Airlift/Tanker Association Convention here Oct. 29.
Lt. Gen. Daniel James III, ANG director, and his reserve component colleague, Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, commander of Air Force Reserve Command and chief of the Air Force Reserve, opened the 36th annual symposium by talking about issues specific to their areas. They also answered questions from more than 3,700 Airmen, retirees and contractor representatives in the audience.
During the event, the generals keyed in on aircraft modernization within the reserve component, as well as the operations tempo of their Airmen.
They said they are working some of the same modernization programs the active force is implementing, including C-130 Hercules avionics upgrades and the use of night vision goggles in the cockpit. But they agreed the No. 1 modernization priority for both is defensive countermeasures for their aircraft.
“We must protect against the low-cost, easily obtainable shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles (that) pose the greatest threat to our large aircraft,” General James said.
“Fifteen years ago, nobody thought much about that,” General Bradley said, “but it’s become more apparent as we’ve gone through the years -- through Desert Storm, through Bosnia and Kosovo, those operations -- and currently today … that there are a lot of people out there trying to shoot at us.”
General Bradley said that defensive countermeasures such as the Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure Program are intended to protect more than just the aircrews flying the mobility missions.
“We’re carrying a lot of troops inside,” he said, as well as “a lot of supplies and equipment … equipment that is important to get to the fight. And it’s important to get people home.
“It’s going to be expensive, and it’s going to take time,” General Bradley said, “but we need to do it.”
The issue of operations tempo is not unique to the reserve component, but its impact on reservists and guardsmen, who serve with the support and cooperation of their families and civilian employers, is perhaps more severe for these Airmen. In spite of the high ops tempo, both leaders report that they are currently on track with their recruiting and retention goals.
General James attributed this to patriotic citizen Airmen, their family members and employers. The three-star coin that he designed, with the stars stacked in a pyramid, symbolizes this relationship, “because the (Airmen) of my organization cannot serve unless they have the support of the two stars beneath them: the family and the employer.”
This year’s convention features almost 40 professional development seminars on air mobility topics as well as keynote speeches by Air Force senior leaders including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard B. Myers and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. John P. Jumper. The convention concludes Saturday Oct. 30. (Courtesy of Air Mobility Command News Service) |
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