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Symposium serves Citizen Airmen

  • Published
  • Air Force Reserve Command Headquarters
ORLANDO, Fla. --  Nearly 1,500 Mobility Airmen and civilian partners came together at the Marriott World Center here for the 2015 Airlift/Tanker Association Convention and the Air Mobility Command and A/TA Symposium & Technology Exposition, Oct. 29-Oct. 31.

The symposium serves as a key professional development forum for Air Mobility Commands Total Force Airmen. 

Throughout the event, attendees had the opportunity to participate in more than 38 seminars and programs that echoed this year’s theme, “Mobility Airmen: Excellence in Action – Past, Present and Future!”

Keynote speakers talked about the assets and accomplishments throughout active duty, Air National Guard and Reserve components. Lt. Gen. James F. Jackson, chief of the Air Force Reserve and Air Force Reserve Command commander highlighted the value of the Reserve during his speech.

“I’m very proud of our citizen airmen and what they bring to the fight everyday,” said Jackson. “We’ve got legacy Airmen in our organizations, squadrons and wings that have been working on the same air frames for 30 years, or their dad did or their mom did,” said Jackson “It gives us tremendous capability to keep these legacy aircraft flying.”

Along with this year’s theme, attendees also walked away with a better understanding of Total Force Integration, integrating active duty, ANG and AFR, and the value it brings to the fight.

During the event Jackson presented the Lt. Gen. James E. Sherrard III award to the 302nd Airlift Wing commander Col. Jack Pittman and other members of the wing from Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. 

The Sherrard Award recognizes the Air Force Reserve Command's outstanding wing or group contributing to the overall success of the Air Force Mobility mission.  Additionally, the unit that best embodies the spirit and essence of today's global mobility operations, maintaining a viable strategic reserve for tomorrow while embracing responsibilities to their civilian employer, community and family recognized.

"I am extremely proud of the members of this wing who continue to take on new challenges, and through dedication, innovation and team work not only met, but exceeded in all areas of our mission," said Pittman. "We've stepped up and teamed-up with our active duty partners in several areas and have certainly been a leader in Total Force partnerships."

The Airlift and Tanker Association is “dedicated to ensuring that American military forces continue to have the air mobility capability required to implement U.S. national security strategy,” according to the association website.

Association members includes active duty, reserve and retired personnel as well as civilian and industrial supporters of the air mobility mission.