Conference readies Reservists for present, future tasking

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Hien Q. Vu
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Edwards' reservists gathered here March 10 and Saturday to attend the second annual Individual Mobilization Augmentee Warrior Skills Update conference.

Ninety IMAs -- reservists who are called to active duty individually, instead of as a unit -- from various organizations across the base participated in the two-day conference to sharpen their skills and stay current with the required training.

"Staying viable and relevant in today's Air Force is the focus of this conference," said Col. James Hogue, Air Force Flight Test Center Mobilization Assistant to the Commander. "The most valuable resource we have to complete the mission is people. Our team is made up of active-duty members, civilians, contractors and reservists. If we, as reservists, are not focused and relevant, we drag everyone down and hurt our overall mission effectiveness."

The purpose of the conference was four-fold -- to complete required training on sexual assault and suicide prevention; to recognize accomplishments of Team Edwards at the annual awards dinner; cover specific issues and training requirements to IMAs; and to foster fellowship, Colonel Hogue said.

Throughout the two days of training, reservists received vital information to help them accomplish the mission, to be trained and ready to fight and meet the active-duty expectations, said Cindy Phillips, Reserve program officer.

"Our expectations are the same as the Air Force expectations: to seamlessly support the Air Force Flight Test Center mission and thus the Air Force mission," Colonel Hogue said. "To do this, we must have timely performance reports and decorations, complete required annual training such the fitness test and suicide prevention training. Each reservist needs to be active and involved in their own careers."

The training emphasized several themes such as deployment, fitness training, Reserve program updates.

Attendees also had the opportunity to contribute to the base's ongoing Air Force Assistance Fund campaign.

"We strive to promote the 'One Team, One Fight' concept by maintaining proficiency in all mandatory and required training as our active-duty counterpart," Colonel Hogue said. "The best thing we can do is to be in continuous contact with our assigned unit and know the issues and challenges facing it. If your civilian job and family obligations allow for it, volunteering for a deployment or filling in for active-duty members deployed is of tremendous help during this time of high operations tempo."

The training proved effective and relevant, especially for those about to deploy.

"The information provided is extremely helpful and important," said Maj. Nori LaRue, a Public Affairs officer who will soon be deployed to the Middle East. "The training clarifies several issues concerning deployment preparation and process."

Currently, several Edwards' IMAs contribute to the fight.

"I am very proud of the contribution each reservist makes to the mission," Colonel Hogue said. "Col. William Beard, senior IMA to the 95th Air Base Wing commander is deployed; Maj. Brian Weir is the 95th Security Forces acting commander, and Lt. Col. Laurel Garceau is the acting 95th Services Director, just to name a few."

Making sure the reservist meets the unit's expectations is also a priority in holding the annual conference, Ms. Phillips said.

"We received a lot of inquiries about the new Reserve orders system as well as navigation of the Air Force portal," she said. "We invited an expert from the Reserve Management Group, Detachment 12 from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to conduct live training to our reservists."

Other issues common to the active-duty force such as promotions, awards and decorations, and timely performance reports, was discussed as well.

"What I found most helpful was briefings on deployment and formal school tours," said Master Sgt. Robert Reyes, a 412th Test Wing maintenance logistic superintendent. "The portion on promotion and record keeping is also very useful to the enhancement of my career."

The conference acts as support for Edwards' IMAs, becoming a venue for them to come together as a team, Ms. Phillips said.

"Through feedback and communication, we were able to identify any issues, concerns and share positive experiences," she said.

Hopefully each participant walked away with practical solutions and recommendations, Ms. Phillips said.

"The conference brought us together as a cohesive unit," Sergeant Reyes said. "This was an opportunity for us to see our strength in numbers."

Next year's conference is tentatively scheduled to coincide with the AFFTC annual workforce awards dinner in March.