Reserve changes rules to require technicians to wear uniforms fulltime Published Aug. 21, 2007 ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- When people visit an Air Force Reserve Command unit during the week in the coming months, they are likely to see more people in military uniforms. The Air Force changed three of its instructions Aug. 7 to require all air reserve technicians to wear military uniforms rather than civilian clothes while working in civilian status. ARTs are full-time civilian employees who serve in the same job as Air Force reservists. They've been wearing uniforms when in military status. ARTs in some locations are already wearing their uniforms all of the time at work. Others haven't started wearing their uniforms everyday because they have not been required to do so. "We want our ARTs to be in uniform because we are integrating with the Regular Air Force and Air National Guard throughout the Air Force," said Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, AFRC commander. "Total Force Integration is changing how we interact with the rest of the Air Force. "Even before 9/11, the regular component depended on us to get the job done," he said. "That dependency is growing because we cannot afford to do business as usual. We need to consolidate our forces and capitalize on each other's strengths." As example of progress, General Bradley cited reservists preparing to fly F-22s with the Regular Air Force in Alaska, reservists flying their own C-17s in California and reservists standing up and managing a C-130 unit in North Carolina with an active associate unit. "We are able to take on new and challenging missions because of the skills and experience of our air reserve technicians," said Chief Master Sgt. Troy McIntosh, AFRC command chief master sergeant. "Some technicians have told me they feel this uniform change is calling their military dedication or patriotism into question," said the chief. "That is not at all the case. Our technicians have proved themselves in the past and, I'm confident, they will continue to do so in the future." General Bradley said the Air Force Reserve is entering a new era, which is vastly different than 1958, the year the air reserve technician program was created. "I believe wearing uniforms is an important step to being a full partner and an Unrivaled Wingman in today's Air Force," said General Bradley. The Air Force Reserve has about 1,335 ART officers and 8,400 ART enlisted people.