Total Force Initiative: AD, Reservist supports major exercise

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Wendy Lopedote
  • 916th Public Affairs Office
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Reserve and active duty Airmen from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base demonstrated total force integration as they seamlessly assisted with an operational readiness exercise at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., in late April.

A small group of 414th and 4th Fighter Wing maintenance and operations Airmen kept three F-15E Strike Eagles mission ready to play the role of opposing forces, or Red Air, during the two-day exercise.

Although they experienced some rough weather and minor maintenance issues, working together as a team was never an issue for the blended force.

"There were no challenges with us working together," said Senior Master Sgt. James Lilly, 414th FW maintenance superintendent. "We work together back home on the flightline side of the house and when you're in the uniform you don't see a difference."

All of the units involved in the exercise from Seymour Johnson and Homestead worked well together during the preparation and execution phases to ensure a successful mission, Lilly said.

The Florida Air National Guard also got into the act when Seymour's team reached out to the F-15 detachment for equipment they needed to work on the jets.

"It was a full-fledged mission between everybody from ops to maintenance to the different back shops from the active duty and the reserve sides," Lilly said. "Getting everything coordinated has gone very well and everything worked out smoothly."

A well integrated maintenance team is absolutely essential to his job as a pilot, said Lt. Col. Ahren Heidt, a 4th FW pilot and the mission detachment commander.

"We can't even start the aircraft without maintenance spending (numerous) hours making sure these jets are ready to go," Heidt said. "These guys have done a great job. We've had code one jets the entire time we've been here, so it just goes to show the amount of work and everything they've put into this."

Less than two years ago, Staff Sgt. Derek W. Pettus was maintaining 4th FW jets as an active duty crew chief, now he works on those same jets as a reservist. While prepping the jets during this exercise for their roles as aggressors he said his job has not changed since making the career move. He also acknowledged missions like this show how total force integration blurs the lines between active duty and reserve.

"Most people don't know I'm a reservist until I tell them," Pettus said. "The only difference I could honestly say is the work schedule, but as far as me working next to an active duty person, you really don't know who's who."