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Volume 72 No. 4                                                        August 2020

  A TURNING POINT
    COMMAND FOCUSES ON RACE RELATIONS, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION

                  Official Magazine of the Air Force Reserve
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From the Top                                                                   @ AFRCCommander                                                            Chief’s View                                                                   @ AFRC.CCC

     BUILDING TRUST IN A TIME                                                                                                                                         WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
         OF UNCERTAINTY
 "Discussing our different life experiences and viewpoints
  can be tough, uncomfortable and therefore often
  avoided…We can no longer walk by this problem."
                                                -General David L. Goldfein, CSAF
                                                                                                        Lt. Gen. Richard Scobee

    The ongoing pandemic and the civil         implemented unconscious bias training         Inclusion officer provides Equal Oppor-
unrest across the nation have given us         for our commanders.                           tunity facilitator training. Further, as a
pause to reflect on the continuing racial         Further, the Command Chief is heavily      part of our commitment to transparency,
inequality in our society and our Air          involved in a think tank with the Chief       we have launched the “Share Your Story”
Force.                                         Master Sergeant of the Air Force focused      campaign to encourage Airmen to share
    Recently, the Command Chief and I          on inclusion and fair treatment of all        their experiences with discrimination and
were able to have a candid conversation        Airmen.                                       what we did to address it – or what we
about racial inequities with a small group        While these measures are a start, we       can do to better address it in the future.          Let’s face it, there is a lot going on in the world right now.       Chief Master Sgt. Timothy White is shown here with the Senior Enlisted
of our Reserve Citizen Airmen stationed        cannot be successful without your help.       Contact your local Public Affairs office if     From daily increases in COVID-19 cases, political differences            Council at March Air Reserve Base, California, in January, before
at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base,             Many of you have already been asked to        you want to share your story.                   amplified during this election year and racial tensions driving          COVID-19 social distancing practices were implemented. Left to right
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      are Chief Master Sgts. Octavio Ortiz, Imelda Johnson, Cynthia Villa,
North Carolina. I am personally grateful       provide feedback directly to the Inspector        The rifts in society serve as fracture      change across our nation, this is an unprecedented and often
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Shirley Ozio, White, Travon Dennis, Jim Loper and Billie Baber.
that those Airmen trusted us enough to         General’s office via an anonymous survey.     points for adversaries that seek to exploit     difficult time for us all.
provide us their perspectives on the diffi-    I encourage absolute candor in giving this    our division and we must address them               Diversity, equality and addressing racial disparity are top
cult issue of racial inequity.                 feedback, as it will provide insight into     decisively. In the face of civil unrest         priorities for not only the boss and me, but also the Department         nothing. Please join the boss and me in making our command a
    We encourage leaders at all levels to      our blind spots.                              and a global pandemic, you have shown           of the Air Force. We are listening to your concerns and recom-           place where people of all genders, races, ethnicities, backgrounds
demonstrate caring and build trust by             Racial disparity in both disciplinary      resiliency, innovation, professionalism and     mendations and moving swiftly to make our command the best               and sexual orientations experience equality and benefit from the
engaging in tough but crucial conver-          actions and career development oppor-         courage. We must now show empathy.              it can be. To be honest, this is long overdue.                           same career opportunities.
sations about our values, focusing on          tunities undermines both institutional            Many members of our Reserve family              I have been honored to speak with Airmen at several units               If you need help navigating this uncomfortable territory,
inclusion, especially with regard to race.     and interpersonal trust, which underpin       are anxious right now. Reaching out,            over the past few months about how systemic racism and                   please don’t hesitate to reach out to our resident expert, Lee
It is hard to have these discussions, yet      mission success. Addressing these issues      listening and allowing your fellow Citizen      inequality permeates our ranks. These are challenging conversa-          Floyd, the chief Diversity and Inclusion officer at AFRC HQ. I
respectful and apolitical conversations will   is central to one of our Air Force Reserve    Airmen to express their emotions is             tions to have. I don’t pretend to have all of the answers, but I am      respect Lee tremendously as a friend and teammate, and admire
forge a path toward positive change.           priorities: Developing Resilient Leaders.     critical toward building the trust neces-       thankful we are starting a dialogue, reaching out for help and           his ability to facilitate crucial conversations. If you have a sug-
    This is also a time for self-reflection    Systemic racial disparities undermine         sary to defend against those who see this       clarity when needed, and practicing empathy when we might                gestion for me and the boss on what we can do to improve our
and understanding that we may have             the ability for even the most determined      moment of division as an opportunity.           not understand.                                                          organization, please reach out to me at afrc.ccc@us.af.mil.
unconscious bias.                              leaders to build trust within their units.        The Command Chief and I are proud               This is the stuff that matters and it is a subject not to be taken      Lastly, please take care of yourself, your family and your
    The Department of the Air Force               The Civil Rights Act of 1964               to serve with each of you and have the          lightly. As one of my favorite thought leaders, Brene Brown,             fellow wingmen, especially during these challenging and difficult
is taking a hard internal look at racial       addressed many issues surrounding racial      utmost confidence that you will continue        stated, “We are in a fight for the dignity of human beings.”             times. As always, it’s an honor and privilege serving as your
injustice. In addition to this review, the     inequality; however, it did not prevent       to rise to meet future challenges.         ■       On June 9, the Department of the Air Force stood up the              chief.                                                             ■
Air Force Reserve will conduct our own         continuing racial injustices from occur-                                                      Diversity and Inclusion Task Force to tackle some of these
review to assess potential discriminatory      ring in our society.                                                                          tough problems, change polices and remove barriers to serving.
practices within the command.                     This is a complex problem without                                                          In one short month, the task force has made great strides by
    The Command Chief and I are com-           simple or short-term solutions. Instead, it                                                   revising dress and appearance regulations, implementing uncon-
mitted to both objectivity and transpar-       is a call to continually commit ourselves                                                     scious bias training, improving shaving waiver procedures and
ency in this process. As an organization,      to improve the environment in which we                                                        working to increase ROTC scholarships for minority serving
                                                                                               RICHARD W. SCOBEE                                                                                                          TIMOTHY C. WHITE JR.
we have already appointed advisors             serve, to include all Citizen Airmen.           Lieutenant General, USAF                      institutions. This is real progress and I’m hopeful more positive            Chief Master Sergeant, USAF
to the Air Force Inspector General’s              To help your unit engage in critical         Chief of Air Force Reserve                    changes are to come.                                                         Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of Air Force Reserve
Racial Diversity Review. We have also          conversations, our chief Diversity and          Commander, Air Force Reserve Command              We are all in this together…the worst thing we can do is                 Command Chief Master Sergeant, Air Force Reserve Command

2 // August 2020                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     August 2020 // 3
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www.citamn.afrc.af.mil                                                                               Table of CONTENTS                                                                                                                                                                          Leadership
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Chief of Staff, United States Air Force

                Volume 72 No. 4 // August 2020                                                         FEATURED STORIES                                                                                               NEWS & PEOPLE                                                                             Lt. Gen. Richard Scobee
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Commander, Air Force Reserve Command

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     13
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Col. Beth Horine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Reserve Ravens                                                                            Director, Public Affairs,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      AFRC looks for Security Forces to fill critical new positions                             Air Force Reserve Command

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     17
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Magazine Staff
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A Winding Path                                                                            Bo Joyner
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Editor, Public Affairs,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Recruiter follows unusual road to success                                                 Air Force Reserve Command

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     19
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Anthony Burns
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ARPC                                                                                      Graphic Designer, Public Affairs,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Creates safe space for honest conversations                                               Air Force Reserve Command

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     24
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Contributing Writers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The Reserve Hypersonics Team                                                              Staff Sgt. Tara R. Abrahams, Master Sgt. Chance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Citizen Airmen and the really fast Air Force of the future                                Babin, Staff Sgt. Katrina M. Brisbin, Raoul
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Fischer, and Tech. Sgt. Josh Williams

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Maintaining Readiness
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     26
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Citizen Airman magazine (ISSN No. 0887-9680)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                is published bi-monthly by Headquarters Air Force
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Acquisition Reservists and Air Force's COVID-19 response                                  Reserve Command Office of Public Affairs for the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                commander of Air Force Reserve Command.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     27
                                                         Airman 1st Class Jacob Derry

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Periodical postage paid at Warner Robins, Georgia,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Cyber Resiliency                                                                          and additional mailing offices. Copies are mailed, free
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Reservist a critical part of efforts to keep weapon systems safe

                                       06                                                                     14                                                           20
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                of charge, to the homes of all Reservists. Content is
Joshua J. Seybert

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                normally news articles and features developed for
                                                                                                                                    Courtesy photo

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     28
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                release to commercial media as part of the Air Force
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Motivated by His Kids                                                                     Reserve’s continuing public affairs program. Opinions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Deployed enlisted defender earns doctoral degree                                          of contributors are not necessarily those of the Air
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Force Reserve. All photos are U.S. Air Force photos

               A Turning                                                            Pegasus Lands in                                             A Different Kind
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     29
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                unless otherwise indicated. Readers-per-copy ratio:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      HQ RIO: Medical IMAs                                                                      4-1. Send inquiries and submissions to HQ AFRC/PAOM,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                155 Richard Ray Blvd., Robins AFB, GA 31098-1661.
               Point                                                                North Carolina                                               of Enemy                                                             Mobilized for historic COVID-19 response                                                  Or, email them to hqafrc.pa.citizenairman@us.af.mil.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     30
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                For questions about the magazine or its contents, call
                National events spur Reserve to take                                916th Air Refueling Wing receives                            Reserve medics discuss what it's like                                Determined to Serve                                                                       (478) 327-1771 or DSN 497-1771.
                a closer look at race relations,                                    its first KC-46                                              to battle COVID-19                                                   Critical care nurse joins the Reserve at age 50                                           Moving? PLEASE DO NOT SEND CHANGES OF
                diversity, inclusion                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            ADDRESS TO CITIZEN AIRMAN. To continue receiving
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Reserve Citizen Airmen assigned to the 307th Medical Squadron return to Barksdale         the magazine, unit Reservists, as well as people
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Air Force Base, Louisiana, after helping with COVID-19 relief efforts in New York City.   serving a statutory tour of duty, should send a change
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                of address to their military personnel flight or unit
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                orderly room. Individual mobilization augmentees

                                                                                                     ON THE COVER:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                should call the Total Force Service Center-Denver
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                toll free at 1-800-525-0102 or DSN 665-0102.

                                     Airmen assigned to the 911th Airlift Wing pose for a photo at Pittsburgh                                                                                                                                                                                                   POSTMASTER: Please send all Forms 3579 to Citizen
                          International Airport Air Reserve Station, Pennsylvania. The 911th AW, like every                                                                                                                                                                                                     Airman, HQ AFRC/PAOM, 155 Richard Ray Blvd., Robins
                                                                                                                                                                                                 Master Sgt. Ted Daigle

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                AFB, GA 31098-1661.
                             organization within the Air Force Reserve, is made up of many individuals with
                                    diverse backgrounds. For more on the Reserve's renewed look at diversity,
                                       inclusion and race relations, see the story on page 6. ( Joshua J. Seybert)

                Chief of Air Force Reserve’s                                               Priority 1: Prioritize strategic depth
                                                                                                                                                         Priority 2: Develop resilient leaders                                 Priority 3: Reform the organization     Look for these icons for stories that                A publication by the
                                                                                                       and accelerate readiness
                Strategic Priorities                                                                   #ReserveReady
                                                                                                                                                                     #ReserveResilient                                                     #ReserveReform              focus on these three priorities.                     U.S. Air Force Reserve
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A Turning Point
                                                                                                                                                               The spring and summer of 2020 will long be remembered as          Force Reserve Command, and Chief Master Sgt. Timothy
                                                                                                                                                            a tumultuous and pivotal time in our nation’s history – a time of    White, Scobee’s senior enlisted advisor and AFRC command
                                                                                                                                                            civil unrest, protests and demonstrations. The deaths of Ahmaud      chief master sergeant, said in a recent message to all members of
                                                                                                                                                            Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and other African Amer-         the Reserve team.
                                                                                                                                                            icans inspired thousands to take to the streets to demand an end        “The command chief and I have taken steps every day of our

                        National events spur Reserve to                                                                                                     to racial profiling, discrimination and injustice.
                                                                                                                                                               African Americans who have long felt they were unfairly
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 careers to foster an environment where every Reserve Citizen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Airman is treated fairly, is valued, and feels their contributions are

                      take a closer look at race relations,                                                                                                 targeted by police officers were joined by people of all kinds and
                                                                                                                                                            colors demanding immediate change. The social unrest sparked
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 valued regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or orientation…and
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 we will not stop. But there is more we all can do," Scobee said.

                               diversity, inclusion                                                                                                         countless conversations around the world about equality, race
                                                                                                                                                            relations, diversity and inclusion. It also sparked an awakening
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    “Chief White and I have already begun exploring ways we
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 can engender a more equitable environment within the Air
                                                                                                                                                            within the Air Force and Air Force Reserve as senior leaders         Force Reserve. We encourage you to begin by taking this oppor-
                                                                                                                                                            called for all Airmen to take an introspective look at where they    tunity to have those tough conversations about our values and
                                                                                                                                                            stand on diversity, inclusion and equal treatment, and what they     treating everyone with decency, respect and equality, especially
By Bo Joyner                                                                                                                                                can do to improve race relations within the ranks.                   with regard to race. Often times it is hard to have these discus-
As the photos on these two pages and the pages that follow help illustrate, the Air Force Reserve is an amazingly diverse organization comprised of            “Our society is imperfect, but each of us can make positive       sions, yet respectful and apolitical conversations have served as a
people from different races, cultures and backgrounds. Recent events across the nation have prompted the Reserve to take a closer look at where it stands   changes within our spheres of influence,” Lt. Gen. Richard           catalyst for change and are the bedrock this country will survive
on diversity, inclusion and equal treatment, and what it can do to improve race relations.                                                                  Scobee, chief of the Air Force Reserve and commander of Air          on. It shows you care.”

6 // August 2020                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                August 2020 // 7
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Lee Floyd, AFRC’s Diversity and Inclusion officer, has been        ethnic heritage. About 72% of the Reserve population is male          he said. “And, by far, the most diverse aspect of our command is        White, AFRC’s command chief and a police officer in his
a part of hundreds of these conversations over the years, and he      and 28% is female.                                                    our people. By seeking diversity and respecting individuals with     home state of California, was one of many police officers who
knows they can sometimes be difficult.                                   When looking at diversity by the numbers, Floyd said AFRC          different backgrounds and different perspectives, we are stronger    spoke out strongly following Floyd’s death.
   “It’s not easy to sit down with people who don’t look like you     compares favorably to both the Air Force and the Department           and more effective. Ultimately, our diversity enhances our ability      “I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the vast majority of my
do and don’t have the same background as you and really open          of Defense.                                                           to generate combat power for America.”                               law enforcement brothers and sisters in blue, of all races, who are
up and share your feelings, your biases and your prejudices,”            "But numbers are a tricky thing," he said. "What we are               Air Force and Reserve senior leaders were quick to speak          equally outraged over this and other incidents where the oath
Floyd said. “But it’s critical that we have these conversations if    hoping to do is establish a highly effective, efficient and harmo-    forcefully about the issue of racial equality following George       we took to serve and protect was not honored,” he said. “These
we are going to get to a point where we truly embrace diversity,      niously diverse work force where everyone is treated fairly based     Floyd’s death in late May.                                           officers and incidents do not represent us; they disgust us, they
treat everyone equally and celebrate the differences that every-      solely on merit, fitness and capability. And you can't do that           Then-Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth Wright             dishonor us, they disgrace us.”
body brings to the table.”                                            by simply tracking numbers. The Air Force Reserve is diverse.         posted a lengthy message about his experiences as a Black               Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., who will become the new Air
   If you look strictly at the numbers, the Air Force Reserve does    What we need to work on is the inclusion piece of the puzzle          enlisted leader and declared, “I am George Floyd.”                   Force chief of staff in August, posted an emotional video in
pretty well in the area of diversity. Floyd’s latest numbers show     and making sure we include everyone, give everyone the same              Then-Chief of Staff David Goldfein denounced Floyd’s              which he talked about the challenges of being a Black man. He
that the Air Force Reserve is about 69% white, 17% black, 11%         opportunities and don’t discount what somebody else brings to         death during an encounter with Minneapolis police, calling it a      will be the first Black man in U.S. history to serve as chief of
Hispanic, 4% Asian, 1% Alaskan Native/American Indian and             the fight just because they don’t share your same viewpoints.”        national tragedy. Goldfein and Wright then held a virtual town       staff of a military service.
1% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander. Hispanic is considered an          Scobee has repeatedly touted the Reserve’s diversity over the      hall online to talk about racial issues in the Air Force.               One of Brown’s first actions was to select Chief Master Sgt.
ethnicity, not a racial category, that is registered separately and   years and said he thinks diversity is one of the Reserve’s greatest      “This is not a Minneapolis issue, this is an Air Force issue,”    JoAnne Bass as the 19th chief master sergeant of the Air Force.
in addition to the other racial categories. In addition, about 8%     strengths.                                                            Goldfein said. “What goes on in the streets of America, we           She will be the first woman in history to serve as the highest
of Reservists decline to provide information about their racial or       “The Air Force Reserve is an amazingly diverse organization,”      know is going on to a certain extent in the Air Force.”              ranking noncommissioned member of a U.S. military service.

8 // August 2020                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              August 2020 // 9
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Diversity and Inclusion:                                                                                                                                                                         bring our civilian selves into our military life and close our civilian
           The Urgency of Now                                                                                                                                                                              eyes while in uniform? Whether we wear the uniform or not, we
                                                                                                                                                                                                           still view the world through the same lenses.
                                                                                                                                                                                                               Regardless, there are no rose-colored glasses that will paint a
                       By G. Lee Floyd                                                                                                                                                                     pretty, nonracial, unbiased picture. Therein lies the problem. What
                                                                                                                                                                                                           you do, see and feel as a civilian is also the same sight, actions and
    “We the people of the United States of America in order to form a more                                                                                                                                 feelings that are with you on drill weekends, TDYs, deployments
perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for                                                                                                                                 and annual tours.
the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings                                                                                                                                       In obtaining this long overdue change, we must not be guilty of
of liberty to ourselves and our prosperity.”                                                                                                                                                               wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for equality by
    The preamble to the Constitution of the United States promises                                                                                                                                         drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must always
all citizens five key elements: Justice – reasonable and fair treat-                                                                                                                                       conduct our struggle with the utmost dignity and discipline.
ment not just for some, but for all. Tranquility – peace of mind and                                                                                                                                           And so, it becomes increasingly clear that Reserve Citizen
the right to live free of oppression and discrimination. Defense –              As a result of what has been happening around the          want to make sure our Air and Space Professionals are           Airmen are tied to the Citizen and, more importantly, we are one in
against all enemies foreign and domestic. Welfare – all the health,          country over the past few months, the Air Force has           able to share their experiences and concerns, and we want       the same.
happiness and fortunes this country has to offer. Liberty – freedom          initiated an immediate and comprehensive review of racial     to empower them to be a part of the solution. Their voices          These past few weeks have challenged us to our core. The country
from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of            disparity within the service.                                 will be heard and captured for the record. We have a tre-       has been forced to come to terms with some painful realities. We
life, behavior or political views.                                               The review will be conducted in two phases. Phase one     mendous opportunity here, and we will not waste it.”            are aware of serious inequities that currently exist in the country,
    Unfortunately, the events of the past few months have made it            will assess African American racial disparity in uniformed       Enlisted, civilian and officer Airmen and Space              DoD, Air Force and, more specifically, the Air Force Reserve.
soberingly clear that there is a large segment of our population who         military discipline processes. Phase two will focus on        professionals across the services are being asked to take           Knowing is only part of the equation. Now comes the hard part
believes the country has reneged on these promises.                          African American racial disparity in leader development       an anonymous email survey facilitated by the Air Force          – self-evaluation. If we are to grow as a country, grow as a people
    As a result of the recent social unrest across our country, we find      systems, including enlisted, civilians and officers.          Survey Office. This survey will allow all enlisted, civilian    and grow as an organization, we must begin the sometimes-painful
ourselves perched upon the cliffs of hope overlooking the dawn of               “We recognize other disparities exist, and these should    and officer members to voluntarily and anonymously share        practice of self-evaluation.
a new era – an era in which every citizen can recognize his or her           be reviewed as well,” an Air Force News Service story said    their experiences and thoughts on potential solutions.              Self-evaluation will help us garner an appreciation and under-
unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.            in announcing the review. “However, for this immediate           Col. Eltressa Spencer, the director of AFRC’s Com-           standing of who we are as individuals. In addition, we should be
    As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. so eloquently stated in his famous         effort to be effective and result in lasting and meaningful   mander’s Action Group, is one of two AFRC represen-             able to determine if we are or have been a barrier to someone else’s
“I Have a Dream” speech, there is an urgency of now!                         change, it must be narrowly targeted. The efforts that will   tatives on the Air Force’s racial disparity review team.        progression.
    The Air Force Reserve has long been a leader within the Depart-          be undertaken upon the completion of this review will not     She raised her hand immediately when the call came out              Over the past several weeks, I’ve had the honor of facilitating
ment of Defense in the areas of diversity and inclusion. We can              be exclusive to a single minority group. We’re confident      seeking volunteers to serve on the team.                        and participating in numerous guided discussions on race relations.
continue to lead the way or we can fall prey to the false sense of           the lessons we’ll learn and recommendations we’ll provide        “It was a no-brainer,” she said. “This is an extremely       These have been extremely intense and soul wrenching sessions that
accomplishment through gradualism.                                           will benefit all of our Airmen and Space Professionals.”      important topic that I am very passionate about and I           reveal and uncover the many wounds carried by our Reserve Citizen
    The urgency of now requires courage and immediate action:                   The Air Force Inspector General team has already           wanted to be part of the solution. This is an issue that will   Airmen brothers and sisters.
courage to challenge unconscious biases and deep-rooted socializa-           begun to gather information contained in a wide array of      take some time to solve, understanding we did not get               I was, and continue to be, heartbroken by some of the stories I
tion that makes us who we are, and courage to talk to and listen to          previous reports, studies and various databases across the    here overnight. This problem is a result of generations of      heard. Our courageous team members told their stories in a non-
those who do not look, talk, think or believe the same as we do.             Department of the Air Force. Although the data is help-       societal injustice and mistreatment of African Americans.       threatening, safe environment that provided a much-needed portal
    Then there must be immediate and meaningful action: action               ful, the most important information will come directly        I have had many opportunities to progress in my career,         to share some of their most personal, private and painful experi-
that is lasting and not temporary, and action that will ensure every         from Airmen and Space Professionals.                          and feel very fortunate to have made it to the rank of          ences. I was amazed at the sympathy and empathy shown during
Reserve Citizen Airman feels and believes he or she is a valued and             “It is critical that we hear from you because you are a    colonel, especially considering I am prior enlisted. I do       these crucial conversations.
integral part of team AFRC.                                                  central part of the solution,” the news release said. “We     realize however, that everyone, particularly other people           I want you to know that Lt. Gen. Scobee, Chief Master Sgt.
    The fact that we are living in, going through and will emerge                                                                                                                                          White, the entire leadership structure and I are extremely honored
on the other side of turbulent times provides us an opportunity to                                                                                                                                         to serve with each of you. We want you to know and believe you are
affect an everlasting paradigm shifting change.                                                                                                                                                            truly a valued and integral part of this team.
    As Mahatma Gandhi said, it is imperative that we recognize our                                                                                                                                             We want you to know we recognize and value the differences
greatest ability as humans is not to change the world, but to change                                                                                                                                       each of you bring to the fight. We want you to know if we’ve
ourselves.                                                                                                                                                                                                 made you feel as though we were not listening to you in the past,
    Change, however, takes time, and changing perceptions requires                                                                                                                                         we endeavor to ensure you know we are listening to you moving
patience and persistence. We must work to change the mindset of                                                                                                                                            forward.
those who view the military as a safe haven – a place where there is                                                                                                                                           Please continue to engage in the difficult discussions we’ve
no racism, no sexism and the thought that everyone is on the same                                                                                                                                          started. Be sure to acknowledge, appreciate and respect each other.
team, when in actuality, nothing could be further from the truth.                                                                                                                                          Always remember that diversity is our strength and inclusion will
    The Air Force Reserve is a microcosm of society. Are we to                                                                                                                                             enable us to fly, fight and win!
believe that we are different when we put the uniform on? Do we                                                                                                                                                (Floyd is Air Force Reserve’s chief diversity and inclusion officer.) ■

10 // August 2020                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            August 2020 // 11
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By Bo Joyner

                                                                                                                                                                                 Reserve Ravens
of color, are not afforded the same opportunities that I have had.       military."
                                                                                                                                                                                 AFRC looking for Security Forces
We must get to the point that every Airman has the opportunity
to grow in the military to their fullest potential, be treated fairly,
                                                                            Jackson said she is optimistic the Air Force's new racial dis-
                                                                         parity review team can make a difference.
                                                                                                                                                                                 to fill critical new positions
and of course feel valued.”                                                 "It's extremely important that we address this situation now,"
   Senior Master Sgt. Kenya Jackson, the aircraft armaments              she said. "I'm honored to have the opportunity to serve on the
functional manager in AFRC's Logistics, Engineering and Force            team and try to make a difference."                                        Air Force Reserve Command officials are looking for Security          “Once they complete the training and certification, members
Protection Directorate, is the command's other representative.              As AFRC and the Air Force embark on this renewed effort              Forces personnel interested in serving on special teams trained       are awarded the special experience identifier, an official Raven
   She, too, was quick to volunteer when she heard about the Air         to ensure equality and promote diversity and inclusion, Scobee          to protect aircraft and aircrews in areas where there is limited or   number and authorization to wear the coveted Raven tab on
Force team.                                                              encouraged all members of the Reserve team to practice toler-           unreliable levels of security.                                        their uniform,” Caldwell said.
   "People talk about change all the time, but I truly want to be        ance and embrace diversity.                                                 “AFRC formalized its Phoenix Raven program in October of             AFRC Raven UTC grade authorizations are staff sergeant
part of the change," she said. "Growing up in southern Cali-                “Our diversity is our strength,” he said. “Our individual,           2019,” said Chief Master Sgt. Michael Caldwell, AFRC Security         through master sergeant, and are located only at identified hub
fornia, I grew up in a true melting pot where there were people          unique perspectives make us an effective team. What binds our           Forces manager. “We’ve had individual Ravens for many years,          locations. Individuals interested in becoming a Raven should
from all different races, cultures and backgrounds. In my middle         team together is greater than what separates us. I encourage you        but this is the first time we have had a fully functional program     work with their chain of command and HQ AFRC/A4S. For
school, there were probably 40 different languages spoken. I'm           to remain true to our core values – integrity first, service before     with Raven unit type codes.”                                          more career broadening and developmental opportunities, con-
not saying everybody always got along, but I don't remember              self and excellence in all we do.” #ReserveReady #ReserveResilient         Caldwell said AFRC developed its program in conjunction            tact Caldwell at michael.caldwell.4@us.af.mil. #ReserveReady
anybody having a problem with somebody else just because                 #ReserveReform                                                     ■   with Air Mobility Command and currently has 42 new Raven              #ReserveReform                                                  ■
of the color of their skin. I can't say the same thing about our                                                                                 positions spread across five bases.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Air Force Reserve Command is looking for Security Forces personnel to
Air Force. I never truly experienced racism until I joined the                                                                                      “These five hubs were strategically placed at key locations        join the Phoenix Raven program. Ravens are specially trained to protect
                                                                                                                                                 throughout the United States, geographically close to air bases       aircraft and aircrews in areas where there is limited or unreliable levels
                                                                                                                                                 with strategic airlift capabilities,” Caldwell said.                  of security.
        #ShareYourStory                                                                                                                             “The Phoenix Raven program is critical because it provides
                                                                                                                                                 AFRC with the organic capability to secure our aircraft in some
      In light of the Air Force’s renewed         she has addressed challenges in any area      #ReserveResilient.                               of the most vulnerable and unpredictable locations across the
   focus on diversity and inclusion, the          – be it gender, sexual orientation, sub-         “We learn from each other’s stories           globe.”
   Headquarters Air Force Reserve                 stance abuse, religious beliefs, adverse      and their perspectives,” Horine said.               Raven teams help detect, deter and counter threats to aircraft
   Command Public Affairs Office has              UCMJ actions, rising out of poverty           “That can help us develop a better               by performing close-in aircraft security; advising aircrews on
   launched its #ShareYourStory cam-              or any of the many other stories that         understanding of the differences that            force protection measures; conducting airfield assessments; and
   paign – a unique opportunity for mem-          are out there,” said Col. Beth Horine,        ultimately make a more inclusive Air             assisting aircrews in the performance of their duties when not
   bers of the Reserve Citizen Airman             AFRC’s director of public affairs.            Force Reserve culture for all,” Horine           performing their primary security duties.
   team to share their stories of overcom-           Members of the Reserve team                said.                                                “In addition to supporting missions at home station, AFRC
   ing or addressing discrimination in the        are encouraged to record their own               For more information, contact your            Ravens are staged globally to support combatant commands and
   Air Force.                                     #ShareYourStory videos or work with           local public affairs office or e-mail            various crisis and contingency operations,” Caldwell said.
      “While racial discrimination is at the      their local public affairs office to tell     AFRC.PAWorkflow@us.af.mil.            ■            Prospective Ravens must complete 28 days of training at the
   top of the Air Force’s list of efforts to      their story. Videos should be less than                                                        Air Force Expeditionary Center at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-
   address right now, we want to welcome          10 minutes in length and should use                                                            Lakehurst, New Jersey. Subjects covered include cross-cultural
   any Airman with a story of how he or           the hashtags #ShareYourStory and                                                               awareness, aircraft searches, airfield surveys, de-escalation tech-
                                                                                                                                                 niques, weapons proficiency and flight-deck denial.

12 // August 2020                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       August 2020 // 13
A TURNING POINT - Tweet.@ citizenairman Click. citamn.afrc.af.mil
Pegasus Lands in
                                                                                              The first KC-46 Pegasus lands at
                                                                                               Seymour Johnson Air Force Base,
                                                                                                                                        – air refueling, aeromedical evacuation          aircraft to meet all FAA requirements as
                                                                                                       North Carolina, June 12.         and airlift, as well as the ability to operate   well as those set forth by the Air Force,”

North Carolina
                                                                                                 The KC-46 will fall under the          in contested environments,” Lanier said.         Birmingham said. “In the training, they
                                                                                                     916th Air Refueling Wing,              The occasion was the culmination             learned how to complete documentation
                                                                                            replacing the KC-135 Stratotanker.          of months of preparing for conversion.           in accordance with FAA regulations on
                                                                                                          (Maj Cruz A. Dolak)
                                                                                                                                        However, the 916th and its subordinate           a dual-certified aircraft when aircraft
                                                                                                                                        unit, the 77th ARS, cherished the last           system maintenance or modifications
                                                                                                                                        moments they had with the KC-135                 need to be accomplished.”
                                                                                                                                        Stratotanker.                                       In the first 72 hours at its new home,
                                                                                                                                            “A large portion of the squadron went        each KC-46 will have to undergo a
                                                                                                                                        on the last unit deployment to Turkey,”          rigorous inspection to ensure every piece
                                                                                                                                        said Lt. Col. Darin Dial, 77th ARS com-          the factory installed made it from the
                                                                                                                                        mander. “We then flew several USAFE              assembly floor to Seymour Johnson.
                                                                                                                                        (U.S. Air Forces – Europe) tanker support           “This inspection requires 916th tech-
                                                                                                                                        rotations, and topped off KC-135 opera-          nicians to inspect and record every major
                                                                                                                                        tions with final missions to Puerto Rico         component’s serial number,” Birmingham
                                                                                                                                        and Savannah, Georgia.”                          said. “Our maintainers will also open
                                                                                                                                            The 77th also helped secure $1.7             panels and complete serviceability inspec-
                                                                                                                                        billion of combat assets during last year’s      tions to make sure every system operates
                                                                                                                                        hurricane evacuations.                           per Boeing, Air Force and FAA technical
                                                                                                                                            “The last 12 months leading up to            requirements.”
                                                                                                                                        the arrival of the first KC-46 has been a           The 916th is scheduled to receive 12
                                                                                                                                        memorable year,” Dial said.                      total aircraft through the end of 2021.
                                                                                                                                            While the wing continuously sup-             Seymour Johnson is the fourth base to
                                                                                                                                        ported sorties, Airmen started conversion        receive the KC-46. McConnell received
                                                                                                                                        training from the KC-135 to the KC-46            the first in January 2019, followed by
                                                                                                                                        last winter.                                     Altus in February 2019 and Pease Air
                                                                                                                                            “In December, we sent our first crew to      National Guard Base, New Hampshire, in
                                                                                                                                        Altus AFB, Oklahoma, for KC-46 train-            August 2019.
                                                                                                                                        ing,” Dial said. “Since then, we’ve contin-         “It’s a rare opportunity to deliver a new
                                                                                                                                        ued to send pilots and boom operators to         aircraft to the Air Force,” Dial said. “The
                                                                                                                                        Altus and McConnell AFB, Kansas, for             crews feel privileged to take part in this
916th Air Refueling Wing receives its first KC-46                                               Base fire trucks spray down the first
                                                                                            Pegasus as it lands at Seymour Johnson.
                                                                                                    The 916th is scheduled to receive
                                                                                                                                        KC-46 qualification training.”
                                                                                                                                            The maintainers have also been hard
                                                                                                                                                                                         historic moment for the wing.

                                                                                           12 total aircraft through the end of 2021.   at work learning the nuances of the new          931st ARW Reaches KC-46 Conversion
From Staff Reports                                                                                  (Senior Airman Jacob B. Derry)      aircraft.                                        Milestone
                                                                                                                                            “The KC-46 is completely different              At about the same time the 916th was
    In a low-key, COVID-compliant             Force Reserve and transitioning to the                                                    than the 63-plus-year-old aircraft we had        receiving its first KC-46, the Reserve’s
closed ceremony on June 12, the Air           next generation of airpower,” Scobee said.                                                been previously working on, and very             931st Air Refueling Wing, McConnell
Force Reserve’s 916th Air Refueling           “Being able to be here with you for the                                                   little of our KC-135 equipment was able          AFB, Kansas, reached a milestone in its
Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base,         delivery of your first KC-46 Pegasus is                                                   to be used to repair and fly the new air         own conversion from the KC-135 to the
North Carolina, accepted its first of 12      an honor and really special for me during                                                 frame,” said Chief Master Sgt. Michael           KC-46.
KC-46 Pegasus aircraft.                       these trying times.”                                                                      Birmingham, 916th Maintenance Squad-                Wing members gathered on the flight
    Lt. Gen. Richard Scobee, chief of the        Col. Stephen Lanier, commander of                                                      ron superintendent. “We are currently in         line June 6 to celebrate the wing’s last
Air Force Reserve and commander of            the 916th ARW, was ecstatic to welcome                                                    the process of divesting more than 600           KC-135R training flight during a unit
Air Force Reserve Command, and Chief          home his 77th Air Refueling Squadron                                                      pieces of KC-135 tools and test equip-           training assembly.
Master Sgt. Timothy White, senior             crew. The closed ceremony marked the                                                      ment that cannot be used on the KC-46.              Though this was not the last time a
enlisted advisor to the chief of the Air      dawning of a new era for the service men                                                  The other side of that is we acquired more       931st ARW aircrew would fly a KC-135,
Force Reserve and AFRC’s command              and women who serve in the 916th.                                                         than 2,500 new pieces of equipment,              the flight was the last UTA training flight
chief master sergeant, served as delivery        “As the first unit-equipped Air Force                                                  designed especially for the KC-46.”              in a Stratotanker.
officials and were on board the aircraft as   Reserve wing to receive the KC-46, we                                                         Along with conversion training, the             The KC-135, tail number #58-0124,
it arrived.                                   are poised to leverage our deep knowl-                                                    maintainers also learned about Federal           departed McConnell early in the morn-
    “This KC-46 delivery is a great           edge and experience to realize the capa-                                                  Aviation Administration regulations.             ing as the lead tanker of a combined four-
example of how we are reforming our Air       bilities that are inherent in the KC-46                                                       “This will be the first aerial refueling     ship formation including three KC-46s.

14 // August 2020                                                                                                                                                                                            August 2020 // 15
A TURNING POINT - Tweet.@ citizenairman Click. citamn.afrc.af.mil
A Winding Path
                                                members, it has travelled worldwide and          The KC-46 will eventually replace the
                                                been part of the major forces defending       U.S. Air Force's aging fleet of KC-135
                                                the United States.                            Stratotankers which have been the
                                                   Now, after 25 years, many flying hours     backbone of the refueling fleet for more

                                                                                                                                                      Recruiter follows unusual road to success
                                                and a number of military operations, the      than 50 years. The KC-46 will provide
                                                tanker still continues to serve the 931st     more refueling capability, an increased
                                                ARW and the 22nd Air Refueling Wing           capacity for cargo and modern aeromedi-
                                                to protect its members and the nation; it’s   cal evacuation capabilities. #ReserveReady
                                                presence on the flightline shrinking only     #ReserveReform
                                                to make way for more KC-46s.                     (Ashley L. Snipes, 916th ARW public
                                                   "It's definitely the end of an era for     affairs office, and Tech. Sgt. Abigail Klein,
                                                our flight crews, but our Reservists are      931st ARW public affairs office, contributed
                                                ready," said Col. Kevin Rainey, 931st         to this story.)                              ■
                                                Operations Group commander. "Our
                                                Reserve aircrews are more than prepared          A KC-135 Stratotanker lands after flying for
                                                                                               the last time as part of routine training during
                                                and although the KC-135 workhorse                 the 931st Air Refueling Wing unit training
                                                is an amazing aircraft, it is time to fully     assembly June 6, at McConnell Air Force Base,
Lt. Gen. Richard Scobee, Air Force Reserve
Command commander and chief of the Air          commit to the KC-46 during our UTAs."            Kansas. (Tech. Sgt. Abigail Klein) Bottom, a                                                                                                                           In his first full year
Force Reserve, helped deliver the first KC-46      The 931st ARW is the first associate          McConnell KC-46 refuels another KC-46 on                                                                                                                               of being an Air Force
to the 916th ARW. (Ashley Snipes)               Reserve unit to fly and maintain the new        June 10. The aircrafts were carrying Secretary                                                                                                                          Reserve recruiter,
                                                                                              of the Air Force Barbara Barrett, Senator Jerry                                                                                                                           Tech. Sgt. Kyle
                                                KC-46. The first Reserve squadron to                                                                                                                                                                                    Hauser met his yearly
                                                                                                 Moran and Congressman Ron Estes as Team
The KC-135 aircrew flew to Texas to             fly the KC-46, the 924th Air Refueling             McConnell aircrews demonstrated the new                                                                                                                              accession goal in less
refuel it sister Reserve unit, the 301st        Squadron, stood up at McConnell in                        aircraft’s aerial refueling capabilities.                                                                                                                     than four months.
Fighter Wing at Carswell Air Reserve            2017 to prepare ahead of time.                             (Airman 1st Class Marc A. Garcia)                                                                                                                            Hauser has spent his
Base.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   14-year Air Force
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        career bouncing back
   The pilots included Lt. Col. Jonathan
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        and forth between
Flores, Maj. Chris Foote, Capt. Derrick                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 recruiting and air
Lopez and 2nd Lt. Ben Stone from the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    transportation.
18th Air Refueling Squadron. Master                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     (Courtesy photo)
Sgt. Clay Dotson, 905th Air Refueling
Squadron boom operator, performed air                                                                                                                 By Master Sgt. Chance Babin
refueling on the flight.
   "Knowing it was the last 135 UTA                                                                                                                       In fiscal year 2020 – Tech. Sgt. Kyle    the Navy since my grandpa was in the          thought the Air Force is the attractive girl
training sortie, I think of all the past and                                                                                                          Hauser’s first full year of being an Air     Navy during World War II.”                    here.”
present members who I’ve had the priv-                                                                                                                Force Reserve recruiter – he met his            Hauser spoke to recruiters from the           Hauser learned a lot about the soft sell
ilege of serving and flying this amazing                                                                                                              yearly accession goal in less than four      Army, Navy and Marines before finally         that day. He didn’t know it at the time,
aircraft with," Dotson said. "We’re now                                                                                                               months. How did the personable Airman        getting to the back of the office and         but that lesson would pay off later when
turning the page to a new chapter in the                                                                                                              achieve such remarkable success? By          talking to the Air Force recruiter.           he was on the other side of the recruiting
931 ARW, with a new weapons system                                                                                                                    applying what he learned throughout an          “Our initial interview made me             table.
and the capabilities it will bring to the                                                                                                             already successful Air Force career.         unsure,” he said. “The recruiter didn’t          He enlisted as an air transportation
fight."                                                                                                                                                   Hauser, a line recruiter with the        seem overly interested. We chatted briefly    troop. During his time as a “port dawg,”
   To increase the amount of KC-46A                                                                                                                   351st Recruiting Squadron at Joint Base      and he recommended I do more research         he helped convince his little brother,
Pegaus aircrew training and air refueling,                                                                                                            Charleston, South Carolina, began his        and ended the session. As I walked back       cousin and brother-in-law to all join
the three flying squadrons of the 931st                                                                                                               Air Force career in 2006, when he was 19.    down the long hallway towards the exit,       the Air Force. As his first contract was
ARW will no longer fly the KC-135                                                                                                                     Looking for a way to pay for college and     the Army and Marine recruiters I had          approaching the end, Hauser wanted to
during UTAs. This is all part of the                                                                                                                  gain some independence, he went to a         chatted with were in the hallway giving       find a different challenge.
continuing familiarization and operations                                                                                                             recruiting office in his hometown of Peru,   me a second pitch as I tried to leave.”          His old supervisor had been a recruiter
testing that began with arrival of the first                                                                                                          Illinois, where all four branches were          The Air Force recruiter didn’t even take   and told him to give it a shot. He applied,
KC-46 in January 2019.                                                                                                                                represented.                                 his phone number.                             and soon the young senior Airman was
   Since the stand-up of the 931st Air                                                                                                                    “My plan was to speak with all of the       “As I thought about what had hap-          on his way to recruiting school.
Refueling Group at Team McConnell in                                                                                                                  recruiters and gather as much information    pened, my 19-year-old self determined it         “Recruiting for the active duty was
1995, the KC-135 has been the work-                                                                                                                   as I could to make my decision,” Hauser      was like dating,” he said. “The attractive    awesome,” he said. “I immediately loved
horse of McConnell’s Reserve and active                                                                                                               said. “I had very limited knowledge of the   girl at school wasn’t chasing the guys. She   the competition and the autonomy it
duty flying squadrons. Along with its                                                                                                                 military, but assumed I was going to join    was the one being chased. I immediately       provided. I was an E-4 with my own

16 // August 2020                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    August 2020 // 17
A TURNING POINT - Tweet.@ citizenairman Click. citamn.afrc.af.mil
Airmen who had been waiting due to              October through December – 12-hour               Columbia, and they are constantly fun-
                                                                                                                                                 COVID-19 sworn in.”                             days Monday through Friday and even              neling people to the right place based on
                                                                                                                                                    Fortunately, Hauser reached his yearly       some Saturdays – so I can be ahead and           the applicant’s needs.
                                                                                                                                                 goal several months before COVID-19             enjoy the holidays. This is not a manda-            Senior Master Sgt. Anthony Jones,
                                                                                                                                                 forced stay-at-home orders. For fiscal year     tory recruiting thing but this is how I          Hauser’s flight chief, said there are usually
                                                                                                                                                 2020, which began on Oct. 1, 2019, he           prefer to operate.”                              pros and cons with getting a prior-service
                                                                                                                                                 met his goal of 37 accessions on January           While transitioning to the Reserve was        recruiter to join his team. This time, the
                                                                                                                                                 30, 2020.                                       initially a challenge for Hauser, making         pros far outweighed the cons.
                                                                                                                                                    “I know I was the first line recruiter       the move to working as a Total Force                “I found the advantages of having a
                                                                                                                                                 to make goal,” Hauser said. “I am only          recruiter is a much easier task.                 prior-service Air Force recruiter on the
                                                                                                                                                 in my second year of recruiting for the            The Air Force is embarking on a Total         team is that he already understood the
                                                                                                                                                 Air Force Reserve, but it is unusual for a      Force recruiting enterprise approach to          general hustle mentality that is needed
                                                                                                                                                 line recruiter to make goal as fast as I did.   recruit the nation’s best talent. In addition    to be successful,” Jones said. “He had
                                                                                                                                                 While I may have met my goal, my flight,        to recruiting for the regular Air Force, Air     experience with explaining Air Force
                                                                                                                                                 squadron and command have not made              Force Reserve and Air National Guard,            benefits and relating to applicants and
                                                                                                                                                 goal, so I am still pushing hard to help        Total Force recruiting also encompasses          families, and he has both active-duty and
                                                                                                                                                 accomplish the mission and meet our             Air Force Academy admissions, Air Force          Air Force Reserve experience.
                                                                                                                                                 end-strength number.”                           civilian service and Air Force ROTC.                “The thing that makes him a great
   Hauser said he believes his time as a "port dawg" has helped him be a better recruiter.                                                          Hauser said he treats the first quar-           “I think the Total Force initiative is        Airman and great recruiter is that he
         His boss said what makes him a great recruiter is the fact that he lives by the                                                         ter of the fiscal year like a deployment,       awesome,” Hauser said. “This may sound           exhibits our Air Force core values. He
                                    Air Force's core values every day. (Courtesy photos)                                                         where he grinds it out with little to no        crazy but when I joined the Air Force,           engages with the team constantly to help
                                                                                                                                                 distractions.                                   I had no idea there was an Air Force             make everyone better. He is a true force
office in a mall and my flight chief was               A chance meeting with an Air Force          by watching how the flight interacted            “Every October 1st, your year resets         Reserve or Air National Guard. I just            multiplier for our team.” #ReserveResilient
more than an hour away. I also found the            Reserve recruiter at the Travis shoppette      as I found my place. I immediately felt       with a new goal,” he said. “For me, tack-       went to the nearest recruiting office.”             (Babin is assigned to the Air Force
accountability refreshing. Your successes           led Hauser to become a recruiter in the        welcomed and wanted to provide value.         ling that first quarter makes the rest of          He said he has a great relation-              Recruiting Service public affairs office.) ■
and failures were yours alone. You also             Reserve.                                       I finished the year at 174% of my goal –      my year just feel better. I work long hours     ship with an active-duty recruiter in
had a large amount of creative control on              “He had his blues on with his gold          but had the support from my entire team
how you wanted to meet your goals.”                 recruiting badge,” Hauser said. “I struck      to do it.”
   After two successful years as an
enlisted accessions recruiter, Hauser
                                                    up a conversation and we chatted about
                                                    recruiting. Then I kept running into him
                                                                                                       Hauser said one of the first things he
                                                                                                   noticed about Reserve recruiting was the         ARPC creates safe space for honest conversations
was selected to move into a line officer            and it turned out he worked on the first       difference in the size of his recruiting
recruiting position and was later tapped            floor of the building I worked in.”            zone. There were six active-duty recruiters
to manage his squadron’s line officer                  Hauser initially put in a package and       in his area of responsibility. He reached
                                                                                                                                                    By Staff Sgt. Katrina M. Brisbin
accessions program.                                 was approved to return to active duty as a     back to his past experience of managing
   Toward the end of his four-year                  recruiter, but the timing didn’t work out      a large zone as a line officer recruiter on         In response to recent national events, Chief Master Sgt.          happening and we can’t turn a blind eye to it. I hope everyone
recruiting tour, Hauser began missing               to make the switch.                            active duty.                                     Billi Baber, Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center’s             is on the same page as far as knowing something is wrong and
the travel and camaraderie of working on               With encouragement from the Reserve             “Line officer recruiters have large          command chief, and Senior Master Sgt. Tony Peel, HQ                  something needs to be fixed. I think with this generation we can
base with his port dawg team. He opted              recruiter and his mentors, Hauser decided      zones and tons of interest on active duty,”      ARPC’s first sergeant, have hosted a pair of virtual safe-space      make a change.”
to go back to his old career field.                 to make the move from active-duty port         he said. “So I had to become familiar with       conversations for members of the ARPC team.                             The overall goal of the conversations was to provide a safe
   “I tried everything to talk him out of it,       dawg to Reserve recruiter.                     how to work electronically and be as effi-          “We have all experienced a trauma,” Baber said. “This is          place for HQ ARPC members to share experiences and get
but one thing about Kyle is his relentless             “I felt good about the process, and the     cient as possible to maximize my reach.”         not a campaign to change anyone’s position. Everyone has a           a better understanding of how other people are feeling. The
determination,” said Senior Master Sgt.             time line worked out perfectly so I made           The experience of working electron-          voice and we’re here to make sure everyone is heard with the         sessions are just the start of the center’s effort to create a culture
Michael Lear, his supervisor at the time.           the transition,” he said. “I am grateful it    ically has proven helpful since virtual          respect and dignity each of us deserves.”                            shift within the organization.
“I mean this in the best way, but once              worked out and that I had the opportu-         recruiting has become a way of life now             The video-based gatherings allowed members to have an                “I have challenged the people of ARPC to think outside the
his mind is set on something, he stops              nity to recruit once again.”                   for recruiters during the COVID-19               honest conversation about what they have been feeling and            box,” Baber said. “My vision is to make diversity and inclusion a
at nothing to achieve it. In this case, he             He was able to attend an Air Force          pandemic.                                        what they have experienced in the past. The diverse group of         part of our continuous professional development. Learning and
loved his last job and there was unfin-             Recruiting Service five-day course for             “When the schools in South Carolina          participants took the time to share personal stories in order        understanding each other’s individual experiences on a continual
ished business that needed to be checked            prior recruiters as a refresher and to learn   closed, my wife and I began schooling            to paint a picture of what their experience with race has been.      basis will only help us be better supervisors, better leaders and
off.”                                               some intricacies of the Reserve.               at home, like most Americans,” he said.             “I had no idea so many of my ARPC colleagues had                  better human beings.” #ReserveResilient #ReserveReform
   Stationed at Travis Air Force Base,                 Stationed at Charleston, Hauser had a       “Since then, we have positioned ourselves        experienced racism up close,” said Mark Nelson, HQ ARPC                 (Brisbin is assigned to the HQ ARPC public affairs office.)        ■
California, Hauser said he enjoyed being            phenomenal first year.                         to go completely virtual. Our recruiting         historian.
back in the air transportation field, but              “I attribute that to Team Charleston’s      leadership worked hard to get virtual               “I’m glad we have this platform,” said Staff Sgt. Breshay
he definitely missed the many challenges            culture and high morale,” he said. “I knew     enlistments approved, which was a big            Strong, HQ ARPC retirements technician. “These things are
recruiting offered.                                 I was on a winning team when I arrived         deal. That allowed us to get our new

18 // August 2020                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       August 2020 // 19
A Different Kind of Enemy
Reserve medics discuss what it's like
to battle COVID-19
From Staff Reports
   Air Force Reserve medical specialists are highly trained to              Albany, New York, who deployed for two months and was
provide critical care to service members injured in battle; they            assigned to the Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx. “We had
aren’t typically trained to care for patients fighting for their lives      all been watching the news and we knew it was bad, but I didn’t
on ventilators in crowded city hospitals. But that didn’t keep              think it was going to be this bad. The entire hospital had basi-
hundreds of Reserve medics from answering their nation’s call               cally been turned into one big intensive care unit.”                          First Lt. Paula
and volunteering to serve on the front lines of America’s battle                Fisher, who works at a gastroenterology practice as a civilian,             Bomar, 307th
against COVID-19.                                                           said he wasn’t used to treating so many critically ill patients. “We      Medical Squadron
                                                                                                                                                     nurse, arrives home
   We spoke with several Reserve Citizen Airmen who deployed                see sick patients at our practice, but most of our patients aren’t               at Barksdale
to New York City this spring to help overburdened health sys-               dying. Here, everybody was on ventilators. They were critically                Air Force Base,
tems care for thousands of people infected with the coronavirus.            ill with a very high fatality rate. There were patients who were          Louisiana, in early
Here’s what we found out.                                                   intubated in the ICU when we got there and they were still              June. She was one of
   “The first thing that hits you is how very sick all of these             there when we left. It was unlike anything any of us had ever            the first people from
                                                                                                                                                     the unit to deploy to
people were,” said Col. Ari Fisher, a physician assistant from              seen before.”
                                                                                                                                                       New York during
                                                                                                                                                          the COVID-19
Air Force Reserve physician assistants who deployed to New York City to serve on the front lines of America's battle against COVID-19 pose for a      pandemic. (Master
photo. Left to right are Capt Kamille Resetz, Lt. Col. Matt Bershinsky, Maj. William Steele, Lt. Col. Troy Houston, Capt. Andrew Cruz, Col. Ari          Sgt. Ted Daigle)
Fisher and Capt. Heather Duggan. (Army Sgt 1st Class Greg Sanders, 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)
                                                                                                                                                       As the individual mobilization augmentee for the chief            worked, Bershinsky said Lincoln was basically turned into one
                                                                                                                                                   physician assistant consultant at the Air Force Medical Readi-        big ICU.
                                                                                                                                                   ness Center, Fisher said he was proud of how Reserve physician            “Interestingly, the place where we spent most of our time was
                                                                                                                                                   assistants responded to the coronavirus crisis.                       the mother-baby unit, which had been turned into a makeshift
                                                                                                                                                       “There are only about 40 physician assistants in the entire Air   ICU,” he said. “There was this crazy dichotomy of bright blue
                                                                                                                                                   Force Reserve and there were eight PAs who were on the initial        and pink painted walls and nursery windows and it was all over-
                                                                                                                                                   deployment of Reserve medical specialists to New York City the        ridden by a lot of really sick people fighting for their life.”
                                                                                                                                                   first weekend in April,” he said.                                         Bershinsky, who is assigned to the 624th Aeromedical Stag-
                                                                                                                                                       Fisher said he was honored to help care for the people hit        ing Squadron, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, as a
                                                                                                                                                   hardest by COVID-19 and to provide much-needed assistance             Reservist, spent 16 years as an Army medic and he said he has
                                                                                                                                                   to New York’s overburdened health care workers.                       never seen anything to compare to this deployment.
                                                                                                                                                       “These doctors and nurses were essentially deployed inside            “There’s an old saying that no matter how bad things get, at
                                                                                                                                                   their own hospital,” he said. “When we got there, they were in        least you’re not doing it in MOPP-4 (the highest mission-ori-
                                                                                                                                                   desperate need of some rest and some assistance. My only regret       ented protective posture requiring full protective gear). This
                                                                                                                                                   is that we didn’t get there earlier so we could have helped as        whole deployment was done in MOPP-4. We were in full gear
                                                                                                                                                   COVID spiked. When we got there, it was actually starting to          all day.”
                                                                                                                                                   level off a little bit.”                                                  Bershinsky said the toughest thing about this deployment was
                                                                                                                                                       Lt. Col. Matt Bershinsky, a physician assistant who works         having to watch so many sick people battle their illness without
                                                                                                                                                   in orthopedic pediatric surgery at the University of Colorado         the support of friends or family members at the hospital.
                                                                                                                                                   as a civilian, deployed and spent nearly two months serving at            “There were no visitors allowed,” he said. “For me, personally,
                                                                                                                                                   Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx.                                  it was exceedingly difficult to watch these people who were
                                                                                                                                                       “The hospital is in one of the poorest neighborhoods in New       suffering alone. Even the people who were there taking care of
                                                                                                                                                   York,” he said. “A lot of the people who live here are very poor      them were wearing the equivalent of MOPP-4 so there was no
                                                                                                                                                   and there is a high rate of mental illness and disease. These were    human connection. You’re wearing masks, goggles, gowns and
                                                                                                                                                   the people getting hit especially hard by COVID.”                     head coverings so you don’t even look human. There was a loss
                                                                                                                                                       Like the Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx where Fisher          of humanity for these people. I come from a practice where it’s

20 // August 2020                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   August 2020 // 21
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