Pope's active duty, Reserve aircrews conduct first joint deployment

Published May 29, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Jon LaDue
43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- In celebration of Memorial Day, Team Pope members had an extended weekend to reflect upon the history of the armed services and this country. For 70 Pope members, not only did they have a chance to reflect on that history, they were also busy writing it.

Nine members of the 2nd Airlift Squadron left Sunday for Ramstein Air Base, Germany accompanying more than 55 members of the 440th Airlift Wing's 95th Airlift Squadron and 95th Maintenance Squadron. The two chalks each flew out on 440th C-130H's.
It's the first time Airmen from the 2nd AS deployed with Airmen from the 440th AW to the European and possibly African theaters, another landmark in the Base Realignment and Closure process for the active duty and Reserve crews.

"When we were tasked to do this mission, we thought it would be a good idea to go ahead and ask the 2nd AS if they wanted to participate because we realized that the 2nd AS has been flying mostly local missions, or they go to the desert and that's it," said Lt. Col. Keith Wesley, 440th Operations Group mission commander and chief of standardization evaluations.

"It gives our aircrews experience flying in another theater. It's a mission we've done in the past, but we haven't done it in some time," said Col. Michael Thornton, 43rd Operations Group Commander.

The active duty and Reserve combined team will be supporting already deployed forces in whatever way they can; whether it be transferring cargo or humanitarian missions. Their one confirmed mission, however, is slightly more interesting.

Colonel Wesley said he is bringing firefighting personnel with him because they will be supporting the May 31 space shuttle launch. There is an emergency landing site on the far side of the Atlantic in case something happens during liftoff and the shuttle has to break away from its boosters. In that emergency scenario, the deployed firefighting personnel team would assist in ground support as well as the ability of the aircrews to fly search and rescue missions in the C-130s.

Colonel Thornton said 2nd AS and 95th AS aircrews have been specifically training and flying together for the last six months and there are no worries about the mission getting accomplished.

"There are no concerns about (their interfly) and how they interact together because they've actually been training together, in detail, in formation flights and even on the same airplane."

The Reservists have more currency of flying in Germany, but the fact that the 2nd AS aircrews going to Ramstein will get seasoned in the European theater is a good thing, Colonel Thornton added.

"I think it helps a lot. It finally gives everybody the experience we normally don't get," said 1st Lt. Michelle Morse, 2nd AS and mission co-pilot.

Lietenant Morse said she thinks the C-130H is a nicer aircraft than the C-130E. Looking back she said the training has gone great and now that's she's fully qualified on the newer model she is glad to be a part of this mission.

"We hardly ever get to do this type of stuff, so for us this is huge. It's a big deal," said Lietenant Morse, "This is the first time we've deployed together. So that's showing the unity of us having to work and do things together."

Regardless of the type or location of the mission, it is paramount that the two units learn to work with each other so that in times of need, there is continuity. This mission will work to provide just that.

"It is historic and its a first step in a long lasting relationship of things yet to come. We're glad to see them step out and help out the reserves with this type of mission, as well as the Reserves working together to season some of our aircrew on this type of mission," said Colonel Thornton.

Pope aircrews make history with joint deployment