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Air mobility squadrons associate with Air Force Reserve units

  • Published
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Air Force Reserve Command and Air Mobility Command are working to establish three active associate flying squadrons.

About 500 Regular Air Force Airmen will associate with Air Force Reserve units at Keesler AFB, Miss.; March Air Reserve Base, Calif.; and Peterson AFB, Colo., by 2012.

Lt. Col. Carlos Ortiz assumed command of the 52nd Airlift Squadron during an assumption of command and unit activation ceremony Oct. 3 at Peterson AFB. Colonel Ortiz and his C-130 squadron will associate with the Air Force Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing. Airmen in both units will fly and maintain the wing's 12 C-130H aircraft.

"We look forward to working and flying with the men and women of the Air Force Reserve Command and will strive to be the model for C-130 active associations," Colonel Ortiz said. "The point of this association is how we share the aircraft. I think the high experience level of Air Force Reserve members will be an invaluable asset in training our younger active-duty Airmen."

No date has been set for activation of the 345th AS at Keesler AFB. The squadron will associate with the Air Force Reserve's 403rd Wing and its eight C-130J aircraft.

Oct. 1, 2010, is the projected date for activating the 912th Air Refueling Squadron at March ARB. Squadron Airmen will associate with the Air Force Reserve's 452nd Air Mobility Wing, providing aircrews and ground support people for the wing's 12 KC-135 Stratotankers.

"The Air Force leverages the value of its reserve components through association constructs," said Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner, Jr., AFRC commander, in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee in March.

"The ultimate goal (of the associate programs) is to provide the Air Force and combatant command commanders the best possible capabilities with fewer physical resources by leveraging the combined resources of the Regular Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve," General Stenner said. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)