RPA reservists help reach 2 million-hour milestone

Published Nov. 1, 2013
By Maj. Jessica Martin
926th Group Public Affairs

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Reservists here played a key role in the Air Force's MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper aircraft accumulating 2 million flight hours Oct. 22.

Their presence in the Remotely Piloted Aircraft program began at Nellis in 2002, and they have been in lock step with the Regular Air Force since, flying combat operations 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"It's absolutely amazing to witness the growth of not only the program but the Reserve footprint," said Col. John Breeden, 926th Group commander.

Breeden was the first reservist to join Predator operations here and the first to qualify to fly the aircraft. Over the course of a decade, his career evolved from working missile integration and tactics development to overseeing two RPA squadrons operating both the Predator and Reaper.

"Our charge is to augment our Regular Air Force Total Force partners with sustained expertise at the operational and tactical levels of warfare," Breeden said. "The Reserve entered the RPA program on the ground floor and provides continuity in training and conducting intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance activities worldwide."

The significant demand for sorties grew the initial 10 positions allotted to the Reserve to two squadrons under the 926th Group, responsible for 5 percent of the Air Force's Combat Air Patrols.

Today, the 78th Attack Squadron and 91st Attack Squadron integrate their pilots, sensor operators and intelligence personnel into the Regular Air Force's 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing and provide 10 percent of the manning for the associated combat squadrons' CAPs.

"This milestone demonstrates how well the Reserve and Regular Air Force integrate on this platform," said Col. Brent Caldwell, deputy commander of the 926th Group's RPA Operations.

"The partnership between the 926th Group and 432nd Wing/AEW is a benchmark Total Force Integration model for the Air Force and Air Force Reserve," he said.

The Total Force RPA program's progression is notable. It reached one million hour mark in 2011, and doubled that number in just two and a half years.

In addition to the attack squadrons, the Reserve's 2nd Special Operations Squadron has contributed more than 35,000 flying hours and 2,300 sorties in the MQ-1 since the squadron stood up here in 2008. It is the only Air Force Reserve Command unit flying U.S. Southern Command-owned RPA missions.

"We bring a persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike capability to a customer engaged in the prosecution of this war," said Lt. Col. Randal Russell, 2nd SOS commander.

"I couldn't be prouder of the professionalism of our men and women--they are engaged and doing a phenomenal job supporting our combat operations down range."

The Reserve is currently responsible for four CAPs, and the mission continues to expand for Team Nellis with the 429th Air Combat Training Squadron from Holloman AFB, N.M., scheduled to stand up under the 926th Group in mid-November. The 429th is a flight training unit that provides instructor pilots and instructor sensor operators.