ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- At a recent engagement, the Secretary of Defense said, “It’s airpower, the next generation of it and our ability to project it that will be the decisive factor in whether or not we truly deter our peer adversaries of the 21st century.” Echoing this sentiment, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force reinforced the SecDef priorities to secure America’s skies, strengthen our global position and keep our enemies off-balance. CSAF calls for focusing Airmen on the mission when we need them, a concept he titles “More Air Force.” And More Air Force is the core of what the Air Force Reserve consistently and reliably offers the Total Force.
We are restoring warrior ethos through our operational experience, the core of Reserve lethality. We deliver operational capability across the full spectrum of Department of the Air Force missions as a proven part of the Total Force.
For example, Reserve fighter pilots average more than double the flight hours of active component counterparts. Reservists across the country are leading major technological modernization in Artificial Intelligence, Hypersonics, Electronic Warfare and beyond line-of-sight communications enabling long-range kill chain and our next generation of warfare.
Our impact extends beyond modernizing for the future fight as more than 60% of the Air Force’s Aeromedical Evacuation capacity resides in the Air Force Reserve. In addition to our combat and air mobility capabilities, we conduct special missions comprised of aerial spray, weather reconnaissance and aerial firefighting on behalf of our nation’s citizens. We will continue to be a combat-ready force multiplier with the operational capability to meet rotational and combatant commander requirements in any theater at any time.
The focus on rebuilding the military and restructuring efforts highlights the depth and variety of expertise our Reservists bring from every sector of civilian industry. Our cost-efficient experience directly adds to the Department of the Air Force’s capabilities not just in combat, but in protecting the nation against other threats. In addition to our special missions, we conduct some of Air Force’s most hazardous, real-world operations.
Recently, we flew eight Operation Deep Freeze missions in harsh weather conditions between New Zealand and Antarctica to resupply and regarrison our U.S. Antarctic Stations. Just last month, members of the 920th Rescue Wing responded to the scene of an engine explosion on a commercial shipping vessel located approximately 300 miles off the coast of Bermuda. The team rescued two severely injured crew members, delivered them to medical care where they were treated and stabilized. These examples best exemplify our force – Reserve Airmen making a difference every day.
On a daily basis, our Reserve Airmen demonstrate the efficiency, accessibility, experience and lethality necessary to reestablish deterrence. With a 72-hour response time, we are always ready. Reserve support of the Levant Crisis and Operation Spartan Shield in the Middle East are recent examples of our unmatched strategic depth and surge capacity. For the first half of FY24, AFRC not only executed all assigned global force management allocation plan taskings, but an additional 245%; we are the crowd in crowd source.
When it comes to achieving SecDef’s second priority – rebuilding the military – we are simultaneously leading the Department of the Air Force’s restructuring efforts while meeting operational demands around the globe. To date, our Airmen have also participated in approximately 59 service and major command exercises.
Most recently, we planned and executed Exercise Nexus Forge which certified our Expeditionary Air Base forces prior to their deployment last month.
CSAF has called on all Airmen to focus on the mission; “More Air Force.” For the last three years I have focused our Citizen Airmen on exercising the muscles required to deter and defeat aggression. We are the efficient, accessible, experienced and lethal Title 10 Reserve force – the More Air Force our nation needs.