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AF Reserve leader addresses Citizen Commandos

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Samuel King Jr.
  • 919th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
DUKE FIELD, Fla. --  "The Air Force is changing, and the Air Force Reserve is going to change with it."

That's the message Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr., commander of Air Force Reserve Command,  brought to the Airmen of Duke Field, Oct. 6 when he visited the base as part of an East Coast tour of reserve locations. The general addressed the growing concerns and rumors about the 919th Special Operations Wing's future.

"This special operations wing that exists here right now has a future, and a very bright future in my mind," said Stenner. "These kinds of skill sets must continue as we work through the things we're going to do as an Air Force serving our nation around the globe."

The 919th will become a fully integrated partner in even more special operations missions through Total Force Initiatives, according to the general. He called the ability to have a true associate special operations unit using dedicated and experienced citizen commandos a true force multiplier.

"The 919th and the active forces that are special operators are very well integrated and work very well together. Whatever mission needs there are for the future, I believe (the 919th) will be a big part of it."

As Stenner spoke with senior leadership and then at an enlisted breakfast, it was apparent the future was on the minds of Duke's Citizen Commandos.

"The Air Force is under the same pressures the rest of our services are under," he said. "We are not going to look the same as we look today. We are probably not going to be as big, but we do have to be as powerful. We cannot be a hollow force. Our leadership has made that very clear. We are going to do what we need to do for this nation in a very good manner and be ready and not be hollow, but that takes (commitment from) all three components working together seamlessly."

Through all the uncertainty about the future, a present boon to the Air Force is the continued growth of total force integration, according to Stenner.

"TFI is flourishing," he said. "These equal partner associate units honor the Citizen Airmen model by respecting the differences between the three Air Force components while capitalizing on their various strengths. TFI is the major reason for our continued success."

On any given day, approximately 5,000 Air Force reservists are serving in the U.S., Afghanistan, Iraq and other locations around the globe and 76 percent of reservists have deployed within the last 10 years, according to Stenner.

"There's never been a better time to be in the Air Force Reserve," he said. "Recruiting, retention, and volunteerism are at an all-time high. So I am very, very certain the Air Force Reserve will bring very capable, efficient and effective manpower to this fight and will be a very big piece of the way ahead."