Reservist may be first to fill Central Command's deployed command chief position

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Chief Master Sgt. Gerald Delebreau is taking on a job that may be a first for an Air Force Reservist. 

He deployed this week to serve as a command chief in the U.S. Central Command's 27-country area of responsibility. Chief Delebreau is the command chief for the 920th Rescue Wing here.  However, the deployed position represents new challenges not only for himself, but for Air Force Reserve Command."It's humbling, and it's a great honor not only to represent AFRC, but also to be a representative for the 920th," Chief Delebreau said. "It's a good feeling."

After nearly a decade at war, being the first Reserve command chief in the Middle East and Iraq is significant for Chief Delebreau because he said it reinforces the fact that Reserve forces are willing and able to contribute to ongoing operations alongside active-duty and Guard members.

"It's about time one of us got a chance to go out there and do the job," he said. "We have the experience, and we have the personnel who have the training to do it."

With 28 years in the military, Chief Delebreau has previously gone on three deployments, all for which he volunteered. He has been the command chief for the 920th RQW for three years.

"The hiring official personally selected Chief Delebreau indicating his confidence the he can excel as the senior enlisted advisor for this deployed location. In the past few years, our command chiefs have been offered the opportunity to deploy, but only as group superintendents," said Chief Master Sgt. Dwight Badgett, Command Chief of the Air Force Reserve.

"As we develop our enlisted force to fill critical positions across the Air Force we have to make sure our professional Airmen have the education, training and experience to compete for these positions. Deploying an outstanding leader to fill the command chief position for a large wing in the AOR is a great first step, and I know Chief Delebreau will do an excellent job," said Chief Badgett.

In addition to being the command chief for a deployed wing, consisting of Airmen from units across the globe, Chief Delebreau will work as an advisor to the senior enlisted Iraqis, teaching them how to better train their enlisted forces.

To train him for the latter role, he will be attending the Iraqi Air Advisory course at Fort Dix, N.J., later this month.

"It'll be a bigger challenge in the sense of the culture, the language barrier, and what they think of us now," said Chief Delebreau, who deployed to Iraq for the first time in 2009.

"They're all challenges that I look forward to, and I think we'll have success."

For more information on the 920th RQW, log onto theirweb site or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.