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AFRC completes first visit to AFNORTH

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jerry Harlan
  • 1st Air Force Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Leaders from Air Force Reserve Command visited Air Forces Northern here Nov. 21 to discuss the increasing mission requirements of AFNORTH and how Reserve Command can help support its operations.

Members of the AFRC staff based at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., including vice commander, Maj. Gen. Allan Poulin, visited after an invitation from AFNORTH's commander, Maj. Gen. Hank Morrow, in order to increase the command's understanding of AFNORTH's many missions.

"(After) the growth and stand up of U.S. Northern Command, there has been a significant increase in the expectations of what this numbered air force does for America," said Gen. Poulin, "We have a responsibility to help resource it with manpower and mission capability."

"It was important for the senior leadership from the different components to come together and implement total force integration," added Chief Master Sgt. Deborah Rutkowski, Air Force Reserve liaison to AFNORTH. "Working together, we can enhance the effectiveness of our Individual Mobilization Augmentees, and in turn, our mission."

AFRC supports AFNORTH through a variety of mission sets: providing full-time Airmen to the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, traditional Reserve Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers to the National Security Emergency Preparedness Directorate, and filling worldwide Air Expeditionary Force vacancies with volunteers. AFRC also provides a dedicated Reserve Mobilization Assistant, Maj. Gen. Bob Tarter, to the AFNORTH commander.

According to General Poulin, AFRC has Air Force forces and Air Operations Center staffs that have the same training standards and same mission sets seen at AFNORTH.

"We are fully trained, fully qualified and ready to support just about anything they do here at AFNORTH, with some specific training that focuses on this specific mission," said Gen. Poulin, "but the background, the experience, and the basic skill-sets are exactly the same."

During Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, AFRC provided search and rescue assets to AFNORTH's 331st Air Expeditionary Group, aeromedical evacuation capabilities, and tactical and strategic airlift.

"After the request for forces, we literally had people postured to be available for whatever was needed in those contingencies within hours," he said.

During recent emergencies or contingencies, operations between AFNORTH and Reserve Command were essentially seamless, said Gen. Poulin.

During future contingencies, General Poulin foresees increased mission and manning requirements from AFNORTH. "As a result, the command must continue to look at different areas where we can help them be successful in their mission."

"The growth of the mission within First Air Force and AFNORTH over the last 5 to 6 years is really quite remarkable. As we (AFRC and AFNORTH) mature our relationship, I see mission requirements expanding and continuing to evolve. We are glad to be here to see what is going on, and we are certainly glad to provide whatever level of support we can from Reserve Command," he added.

Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command ensures its three numbered air forces, 36 wings and other subordinate units are prepared to accomplish their Total Force missions.