Active association celebrates one year in Cheyenne

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Tim Lockwood
  • 153rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
F. E. Warren AFB, Wyo. --  One year ago, active duty personnel set foot in Cheyenne. They didn't report to Warren, but to a new duty station, the Cheyenne Regional Airport. Their mission: to create the 30th Airlift Squadron.

The 30th AS is Air Force Air Mobility Command's first active associate unit, under one that is the operational control of a National Guard unit. In this case it is Wyoming's 153rd Airlift Wing.

"Some people see the active association as an experiment," said Col. Harold Reed, 153rd AW commander. "We see it as a way to make sure the nation gets the most out of its airplanes, air crews and tax dollars."

"On any given day, we can better utilize our airframes because we have the added manpower of the 30th [AS] personnel," he added.

Last July, the first active-duty Airmen arrived at the 153rd AW. Now, 120 active-duty Airmen are integrated into the wing's operations, maintenance and support groups, working side-by-side Wyoming ANG.

The anniversary was commemorated July 7 during the Wyoming ANG's wing formation with remarks by Colonel Reed and Col. Jeffrey Hoffer, 463rd Airlift Group commander. The 463rd AG of Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., has administrative control over the 30th AS.

"We took what the active-duty and Guard brought to the table and combined it to develop an entirely new animal," Colonel Reed said. "We combined the youth and exuberance of the active duty with the age and experience of the guard."

Senior Master Sgt. Rick McKean, 30th AS enlisted operations superintendent, said the squadron is benefiting from the training they receive from the ANG and from being in the National Guard environment.

"Our younger squadron members have no idea what a rich environment this is," Sergeant McKean said. "Here we get the chance to deploy for operations like Coronet Oak and Joint Forge and do off-station trainers. In the active-duty world those opportunities are not available. And we still deploy to the desert for combat. With that mix, it can't get any better."

Maj. Jeffrey "Pep" DeVore, operations officer and acting 30th AS commander admired the accomplishment.

"The first year has flown by," Major DeVore said. "But when you look over your shoulder and see how much we have accomplished, it's astounding. The Wyoming Military Department has totally embraced us."

Major DeVore is filling in for Lt. Col. Steve Hopkins, 30th AS commander.

"It hasn't been easy, but we've had their support all along and it has been outstanding support," he said.

Major DeVore said the support of the Wyoming ANG's flying squadron, the 187th Airlift Squadron, has been a key factor in his squadron's milestones.

Air Mobility Command gave the Wyoming ANG until Oct. 1 to have crews ready to deploy. They completed that objective ahead of schedule, partly because of the efforts of the 187th AS, Major DeVore said.

The first deployment of combined crews came four months after creation of the 30th AS. That deployment, for Operation Coronet Oak in October, was the first of what's become standard for the 153rd AW: active-duty and National Guard crews flying together to complete one mission.

So far, the 30th AS Airmen have participated in missions in four military theaters, spanning five continents and three hostile-fire-zones while moving more than 320,000 pounds of cargo and nearly 500 passengers.

Even with achievements, there are challenges with deployments, cultures and personalities.

"There are a ton of challenges we don't even know about yet, but we are excelling at overcoming barriers," Major DeVore said. "Right now, we are on the two-yard line with 98 yards to go."

"We're both better at what we do because of each other," Colonel Reed said. "We've learned to flex in everything we do. We're better on deployments because of our combined efforts."

Major DeVore said that although it took active-duty and National Guard commands years to design the active association concept, it took one month for the active-duty crews to start flying with the Wyoming ANG's 187th AS crews on Wyoming planes. The ease and speed with which it occurred didn't surprise anyone in Cheyenne.

"We have had to tackle issues, which are shaping the way the entire U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard and Reserves will conduct warfighting and training in the future," Major DeVore said. "Every hurdle which has been overcome is a success story. It is a very humbling process to be a part of."

"The military as a whole is going toward a total force concept," he added. "This is just the first step."