Air Force leaders discuss leveraging Reserve strengths

Published May 25, 2011
By Tech. Sgt. Steve Lewis
459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

WASHINGTON -- The Air Force Reserve faces many challenges, such as providing the training that Citizen Airmen need to support warfighting capabilities and maintaining full-time support to joint partners with a part-time force. With tightening budgets, leaders have had to brainstorm innovative ways to meet the needs of the nation's defense in a shifting world and historic time.

These challenges and other topics were discussed at the 2011 Air Force Reserve Senior Leader Conference, held here at the Marriott Wardman Hotel, May 16-17.

The overall theme of the conference, "Rebalancing the Total Force: Leveraging Reserve Strengths for Changing Global Realities," was supported by briefings given by Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove.

In his opening remarks, Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr., chief of Air Force Reserve and commander of Air Force Reserve Command, summarized the topics to be briefed over the two-day conference. He also addressed the important role of the Reserve component, readiness and the allocation of Reserve capabilities.

"At this particular period of time, leveraging the Reserve component has never been more important, especially at the top of senior leaders' minds within the Pentagon, the Department of Defense and all the way up to the administration," General Stenner said. "We're poised both as the Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard to become a bigger piece of this nation's defense."

Secretary Donley later spoke to the Reserve senior leaders about the initiatives the Air Force has put together to help maximize the capability and efficiency of the Total Force Enterprise. The secretary told them how a constrained federal budget would affect the long-term modernization of Air Force assets and programs, while meeting the nation's security needs.

"While modernization programs are essential to core Air Force capabilities, the issue confronting us is financing," Secretary Donley said. "This makes it even more critical for the Air Force and the entire defense establishment to not only continue with further efficiencies but also make the right strategic choices to get the most out of every scarce defense dollar."

Brig. Gen. John J. Mooney III, 307th Bomb Wing commander and conference attendee, felt that among the issues covered, Secretary Donley's speech brought value both to himself and to what he plans to take back to his wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, La.

"I particularly enjoyed the secretary of the Air Force's discussion," General Mooney said. "He gave us hope, especially in regards to having the budget to keep carrying out our missions. I'm looking forward to telling everyone back home that not only is General Stenner fighting for us, but the secretary of the Air Force values the Reserve and understands what we do. I thought he had a great briefing."

Although the federal budget and defense spending were two key topics discussed at this year's conference, other presentations including improvements to professional development and the Air Force Reserve Command's full operational capability.

General Breedlove talked about modernization initiatives in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance programs and strengthening cyberspace superiority.

"We have to become more vigilant in what we're putting out on the net and how we protect it," General Breedlove said. "So our No. 1 focus now is protecting information and continually building a force that cannot only defend but fight in cyberspace."

General Breedlove also spoke about the impact the Reserve component has on the overall mission. He mentioned capabilities that the C-130 Hercules and the KC-135 Stratotanker bring to the fight, which are largely provided by the Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard.

"We have always done the Air Force mission by continually accessing Reserve components, and we're unable to complete large portions of our mission without you," General Breedlove said.

In his closing remarks, General Stenner discussed the way forward for the Air Force Reserve. He said the Air Force Reserve can continue to build partnerships, maintain readiness and focus on its people and their families.

"We are heavily engaged in Washington, D.C., and at AFRC in determining the way ahead to get to full operational capability," General Stenner said. "We are on our way and on a good journey. I'm very happy with the leadership that we have, from the top to the bottom. We'll do nothing but get better if we can walk down the road of building a team of the future."