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Air control reservists mobilize, deploy overseas

  • Published
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Eighty-nine Air Force reservists from the 513th Air Control Group here deployed to an undisclosed location in U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility May 13.

Group reservists share the Air Force's premier airborne surveillance and battlefield management role with active-duty Airmen. Together they operate and maintain E-3B Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft, better known as AWACS.

While deployed, the mobilized Airmen are part of the 970th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron under the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. They perform Air Force Central missions in support of coalition objectives in Afghanistan, as well as exercise and training missions in support of defense commitments to Gulf Cooperation Council allies.

The 513th ACG reports directly to Air Force Reserve Command's 10th Air Force and partners as a classic associate unit with Air Combat Command's 552nd Air Control Wing at Tinker AFB.

"Our reservists are trained to the same readiness levels as active-duty Airmen," said Col. Jeff McGalliard, 513th ACG commander. "They have spent the past few weeks focusing on mission-specific qualifications that enable USCENTCOM objectives across its spectrum of warfighter roles. They are fully prepared to prosecute any of those assignments."

Lt. Col. Dell Robertson, 970th Airborne Air Control Squadron commander, commented on the partnerships that exist among units at Tinker AFB.

"The level of push toward that shared objective from our partner Air Combat Command wing, host 72nd Air Base Wing support units and 507th Air Refueling Wing has been superb," he said. "We are proud that we're able to provide support to the 552nd Air Control Wing, which relentlessly fills taskings from three different combatant commanders in steady-state operations, and surges to provide top cover during pop-up contingencies like last year's Operation Unified Protector (air operations over Egypt)."

Members of the 513th, particularly aircraft maintainers, regularly volunteer to serve overseas. However, this is the first mobilization of unit aircrews since a two-year activation during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"Visiting inspectors recently remarked on the seamless level of integration between the Reserve's 513th maintainers and the active-duty 552nd Maintenance Group, which pays huge dividends ... to keep the 30-plus year old aircraft available for the fight," said Lt. Col. Alan Priest, chief of maintenance for the 513rd ACG.

The 513th routinely supports the Air Force's airborne combat control operations. This support includes assisting counterdrug operations in South America, keeping the homeland safe in Operation Noble Eagle and last year deploying to Southwest Asia for 120 days. In April, group reservists provided air surveillance protection for the president during the Summit of the Americas in Columbia.

In a recent visit to the group, Brig. Gen. William "Blaze" Binger, 10th Air Force, said he was impressed with the high morale and mission commitment displayed by its members.

In a message to the reservists who deployed, he wrote: "God speed and get home to us quickly."