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60 years of service: Air Force reservists operationally-engaged warfighters

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shawn J. Jones
  • U.S. Air Forces Central Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  More than 1,400 Air Force reservists will celebrate their command's 60th birthday April 14 while fighting the war on terror throughout U.S. Central Command's 27-nation area of responsibility, which includes Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa. 

The regular Air Force separated from the Army in September, 1947, and the Air Force Reserve was formally established seven months later. Originally, the Air Force Reserve was established for stand-by replacements for active-duty Airmen during wartime mobilization. Over the course of the past 60 years, the Air Force Reserve has become more integrated with the regular Air Force at home and while deployed. Since Desert Storm in the early '90s, the Air Force Reserve has provided near-seamless integration of Airmen into Air Force operations. 

"The real success story is you can not tell the reservist from the active-duty member at first glance, you have to ask them where they are from, then they will tell you they are reservists," said Col. Bill Forshey, the Senior Air Reserve Component advisor for U.S. Air Forces Central. "They do not want to be treated differently but their difference brings a lot of other skills to the fight." 

Just like their active-duty counterparts, reservists from all Air Force specialties deploy to fight the war on terror, and according to Air Force senior leaders, reservists are performing at very high levels. 

"The Air Force Reserve provides an indispensable contribution to airpower," said Lt. Gen. Gary North, U.S. Air Forces Central commander. "They are professional warfighters who roll up their sleeves and fight side-by-side with our active-duty Airmen." 

The use of reservists as forward-deployed warfighters is not just a temporary reaction to the war on terror, according to Air Force Reserve leadership. 

"To meet future requirements, we will continue to build and sustain this viable force of an operationally-engaged Reserve - a force in use every day," said Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, Air Force Reserve Command commander. 

Though reservists' role in the fight has changed over the past 60 years, General Bradley said Reserve Airmen still adhere to their founding principles. 

"Today, responding to a variety of threats to our national security and fighting a global war on terrorism, we serve with the same courage, commitment and confidence that defined us in our first years," he said. "Now celebrating our 60th anniversary, we are more than ever essential to the Air Force's ability to fly, fight and win."