Some reservists pick volunteering over mobilization

Published Dec. 4, 2008
By Maj. Miki K. Gilloon
Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- For one Airman assigned to the Air Force theater hospital at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, providing the best medical care for wounded warriors was an opportunity she could not pass up.

Senior Airman Samantha Brunner, a traditional reservist from the 911th Airlift Wing at Pittsburgh Air Reserve Station, Pa., decided to volunteer rather than be mobilized to support the Global War on Terrorism.

"I felt I needed to volunteer as I did not want to miss out on what everyone told me was an 'unreal and unbelievable lifetime experience,'" she said.

Airman Brunner is an aerospace medical service technician in Balad's 332nd Expeditionary Aeromedical Squadron.

She provides on-the-spot medical care for wounded warriors. If the wounded are in critical condition, she stabilizes them so they can be flown to hospitals in Germany or the United States.

According to Col. Michael Dankosky, chief of Air Force Reserve Command's aeromedical evacuation branch, Air Force reservists have always volunteered to support humanitarian missions in the United States, such as hurricane reconnaissance, aerial firefighting and disaster relief efforts.

"In recent years, there has been a surprisingly high and consistent number of volunteers who step forward for deployments," he said.

Reservists are choosing volunteerism over mobilization. It allows them to serve yet gives them the flexibility to coordinate absences with employers and family.

"The Air Force Reserve has a large number of repeat deployers from a spectrum of Air Force specialty codes," said Carl Vogt, AFRC Air Expeditionary Force Cell division chief.

"The numbers of volunteers are increasing due to a number of contributing factors," he said. "We do our very best to fulfill those requirements to meet the needs of the Air Force."

With increasing air and space expeditionary force requirements and with the medical field and other career fields becoming critically manned in Iraq and Afghanistan, reservists like Airman Brunner are quickly volunteering to fill shortfalls.

Airman Brunner has a family history of military service starting with her grandfather in World War II. Since then, a family member has served in every U.S. conflict. Her father continues to serve as an Army reservist.

"I wanted to do my part and contribute to the Global War on Terrorism efforts and provide relief to all those participating in this conflict," Airman Brunner said. "I wanted to achieve the experience that would only be gained by serving in this area of operations."

Another traditional reservist who jumped at the chance to gain experience at a deployed location is Lt. Col. Helena Perez from the 943rd Rescue Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz.

"I did not want to wait because I may never have been mobilized," said Colonel Perez, serving as deputy commander of the 380th Expeditionary Medical Group.

"Being a mother of a son who is in the Marines, my first thought is for their mothers," said Colonel Perez. "When I look at these young men and women I think of the price they are willing to pay and of their loved ones back home. I wanted to make sure they get the respect and care they deserve."

As of December 2008, the Air Force Reserve has about 2,000 volunteers overseas performing a variety of tasks. More than 80 Air Force Reserve aeromedical and more than 150 ground support medical professionals are serving 90-day to one-year deployments to support operations around the world.

More information about volunteerism in the Air Force Reserve can be found on the command website at http://www.afrc.af.mil/library/factsheets/vol-mob/index.asp (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)