US System Shows Potential of Reserve Units

Under the Force Structure Review’s recommendations, Australia would adopta volunteer Ready Reserve force to aid defence, the Army having some 3,200 Ready Reservists and both the Navy and Air Force 450 each. The Ready Reserve, which could be brought into being as early as January 1992, would be open to fully trained former military personnel and current reservists, or to new, untrained recruits; fully trained personnel would serve as Ready Reservists for five years, while new enlistees would undergo an initial 12 months of full time training and then serve a further four years as reservists.

The scheme would ideally suit would-be tertiary students, who could serve one year full time before attending university where the typical degree course is four years, during which time recruits would be readily available to serve the 50 days (including two periods of two week service) required of them annually. The use of tertiary students would reflect the US schemes, which similarly recognise that students are usually intellectually capable of being trained for important military roles, and perhaps more importantly are more readily available (with longer holidays and less rigid work hours) for training.

The ADF and Federal Government is prepared to offer an attractive inducement package to Ready Reservists. Besides the one year of full time employment, Ready Reservists will receive tax exempt pay and allowances (at about 85% of the Permanent rate); access to the Military Superannuation and Benefits Scheme; an annual $1,500 Commitment Bonus at the completion of each year of part time service (on top of pay); Job Search Assistance; access to the Ready Reserve Education Assistance Scheme (tax exempt) following the year of full time service; medical and dental coverage during periods of service; deferral of entrance to tertiary institutions to allow for the one year of full time training; and access to certain services for families. In addition, employers will also be offered financial inducements to release Ready Reservists for training.

Having been induced to join the Ready Reserve, recruits will then train and be, as the name suggests, more ready to serve (ie be both fully trained and more able to leave their civilian posts at short notice) than the current Reserve force, which incidently will be retained at its current numerical strength and is targeted to receive new, more modern equipment.

Most Ready Reservists however will be Army, and in particular infantry, with just 450 the Navy and Air Force. But established for the Force Structure Review recommends that former RAAF F-111 and F/A-18 Hornet aircrew be actively encouraged to continue flying as Reservists for periods of up to six years to “provide a surge capability”. (This is something that this magazine has been lobbying for ad nauseam for many years now and at last reflects a welcome dose of lateral thinking from the Russell Hill hierarchy and their political masters!)

However, it is not considered likely at this stage that new, untrained Ready Reserve recruits will be able to train as aircrew for service on a part time basis with the Air Force Reserve, but at least Defence will now be able to utilise the experience of former aircrew who have left the Force but are still more than capable of flying frontline combat aircraft.

Defence therefore will benefit from the Ready Reserve scheme and other recommendations of the Force Structures Review, however though there are some striking similarities to the corresponding US Reserve schemes, the use of both Army and more importantly Air Force Ready Reservists pales in comparison to the US Air National Guard (ANG) and the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Army flying Reserves.

The US ANG and Reserve Forces

To undertake any comparison or study of the US Reserve and National Guard organisations, one must appreciate the sheer size, complexity and operational value of these related yet distinct services. Given that it is only the RAAF which at this stage will benefit from the use of Reserve aircrew, it is perhaps best to concentrate on the ANG and USAF Reserve (AFRes), though bearing in mind that the US Navy, Marine Corps and Army also operate their own Reserve schemes along essentially similar lines to that of the AFRes.

The Air National Guard has 115,000 active members, with its strength being such that personnel man some 98 flying squadrons and 283 independent mission support units (such as Aeromedical Evacuation Flights, Communications Flights and Weather Flights). It effectively provides one third of the US Air Force’s total structure: this includes a staggering 92% of the United States’ continental based fighter interceptor force and more than half its reconnaissance force, as well as tactical fighters, tankers, airlifters, and rescue aircraft! (Refer box for details)

No longer is the ANG considered a group of “weekend warriors” – as it was even up till the late 1970s – flying mainly older and often obsolescent equipment. Though some older and obsolescent equipment remains, for instance several ANG units continue to operate the long serving F-4E Phantom (which is still considered a potent weapon, but which also is fast approaching retirement), the ANG now also operates state-of-the-art equipment such as the F-16 Falcon and F-15 Eagle, Black Hawk choppers, KC-135 tankers, and heavy transports such as the C-130H Hercules, C-5A Galaxy and C-141 Starlifter, and ultimately the new C-17A when it enters service. (A far cry from the 1950s when ANG units flew WW2 vintage F-47 Thunderbolts alongside USAF jet fighters, or even during the seventies when the ANG still flew piston engined KC-97 tankers, C-131, C-119, C-123 and C-124 transports, and the most numerous aircraft was the obsolescent F-100 Super Sabre!)

Similarly, the Air Force Reserve, which is distinct from the Air National Guard, is very important in the overall scheme of things and now operates some of the most modern. equipment in the USAF inventory. As at January this year the Air. Force Reserve operated two squadrons of F-16 Falcons, five of F-4 Phantom variants, five of A-10A Thunderbolt lls, two of C-5A Galaxys, one C-141 unit, three KC-135E tanker squadrons, 13 C-130 Hercules squadrons, one each of AC-130 Hercules gunships and WC-130 weather recon, and three squadrons equipped with a mix of HC-130H/N, HH-3E, UH-1H and HH-1H.

The US Navy and Marine Corps also each have their respective Reserve units. The Navy Reserve operates two primary Air Wings: CVRW-20 flies from Jacksonville, Florida with two F-14A squadrons, three A-7E attack squadrons and one each of K A-3Bs, EA-6As and E-2Cs; CVRW-30 at Almada, California has two squadrons of F-14As, two of F/A-18s and one each of A-7B, K A-3B, EA-6A and E-2. In addition the Reserve has seven P-3C Orion squadrons on the east coast and six on the west coast, a transport unit at New Orleans with a mix of C-9s and C-131s, and units operating helicopters such as the SH-2, SH-3 and HH-1, with a single HH-3 equipped combat rescue squadror reequipping with the latest HH-60s.

The Marine Corps Reserve is also in a stage of transition, its 4th Marine Air Wing re-equipping from two F-4, one F/A-18 and five A-4 Skyhawk squadrons to five F/A-18 and two AV-8B squadrons. In addition the EA-6A and KC-130F fleets are being upgraded to EA-6B and KC-130T, respectively, while the two AH-1J Cobra squadrons are receiving AH-1Ws and the CH-53A squadron late model CH/RH-53Ds.

There is also the US Army, which makes use of Reservists to fly a variety of types, mostly helicopters from several bases in the US. Like their counterparts in other services, the Army Reservists have ready access to state-of-the-art combat equipment, the philosophy again being to keep Reservists up to date and therefore combat ready in times of need, such as the recent Gulf War conflict.

Thus the US Air National Guard and Reserve fleets are modern, state-of-the-art equipped, and superior or at least equal to the equipment used by many frontline air forces worldwide.

Inducements to Join

The US Reserve and ANG organisations offer comprehensive inducement packages to attract recruits, not the least for flying units being the chance to either fly or work on modern, frontline military equipment.

Though personnel from all sectors of the community are recruited for the Reserve and National Guard forces, two groups of citizens are in particular targeted: former full time military personnel and tertiary students.

Former military personnel are encouraged to remain involved with the Reserve forces because they are hoth fully trained and experienced in specific areas of expertise, be it as aircrew, ground crew, command or specialist technical positions.

Though the incentives package for all personnel is attractive, a prime drawcard for former full time servicemen is that Reserve duty offers perhaps the only chance to continue serving with equipment which is very often both more modern and more exciting than will be experienced in civilian careers. Advertising therefore encourages former full time military personnel to transition to the Reserves, for instance a US Navy pamphlet offers “Everything you need for a great weekend with the gang”, pointing out that personnel will have continued access to the likes of A-6s and F-14s. Thus, as is often the case with aircrew, ANG and Reserve personnel are often more experienced and capable than their full time counterparts – their years of experience (as against that of younger service fliers) are not wasted and the Service is able to retain the use of an invaluable human asset.

Students are the other large group targeted for Reserve and Guard service. As noted earlier, tertiary students are considered ideal for Reserve duty, being more often available for service (through having longer holiday breaks) and their standards of education being such that they are intellectually capable of training for some of the more mentally demanding military jobs, and as such are also often taken in for Reserve officer training.

Particularly with the US situation of students having to pay up front for their tertiary education, a guaranteed income is a big incentive for new recruits from colleges and universities. The National Guard offers students $US5,000 in tuition assistance under the New GI Bill, and in addition there is a $US2,000 enlistment bonus and pay during all training amounting to a minimum of $US11,000 during the standard six years of enlistment – the bottom line is that at least $US18,000 can be earned over six years!

Besides experience and pay incentives, ANG and Reserve service offers training in areas very useful in civilian careers (eg computer programming, communications and electronics), low cost life insurance, travel on military aircraft when space is available, and even an attractive retirement program.

ANG/AFRes Total Force Capability

ANG: 92% of the Air Force’s air defence interceptor force; 69% of engineering installation capability; 66% of aircraft control and warning forces; 66% of USAF combat communications units; 55% of tactical air support forces; 54% of tactical control; 50% of aerial recon force; 37% of tactical airlift capability; 30% of USAF civil engineering forces;

29% of rescue and recovery capability; 24% of the tactical fighter force; 19% of air refuelling tankers; 11% electronic combat capability; 6% of strategic airlift forces. AFRes: 100% of fixed wing aerial spray capability; 71% of Military Airlift Command medical crews; 60% of wartime combat logistics support capability; 50% ·of C-141 and C-5 crews; 50% of aerial port capability; 49% of AC-130 gunships; 43% of Strategic Air Command KC-135/KC-10 aircrews; 40% of strategic airlift maintenance force; 40% of weather recon force; 38% of rescue and recovery; 33% of mobile aerial fire fighting system capability; 30% of aeromedical airlift crews; 24% of tactical airlift; 20% of civil engineers; 15% of special operations capability; 12% of C-5/C-141 units; 8% of fighter aircraft; 4% of KC-135 force

Training for Duty

Naturally with the high tech equipment used by the ANG and various Reserve forces, training of personnel is a high priority and is therefore completed to an exacting standard.

Basic training in the National Guard lasts for six weeks at the Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. It entails teaching basic skills needed in the Guard and also generally “toughens up” new recruits. From basic training recruits usually proceed to technical school, unless professional experience in the chosen field of military duty is already held. There are five Air Force Bases offering Guard technical training, and between them over 1,700 courses are offered from avionics to armaments systems to medical. The time spent in ground schools varies from as little as one week to as long as 42 weeks full time.

Air Force Reserve aircrew training also commences with an intensive 12 week course at Lackland AFB with the Officer Training School, during which classes in “leadership, physical training, Air Force customs and courtesies, and the role of the Air Force in supporting national objectives” are attended. A three week Flight Screening Program identifies those who have the potential to successfully complete pilot training, though this is bypassed if a private pilot’s licence is already held. Currently Flight Screening is completed in the Cessna T-41 Mescalero (172), and recruits must solo to successfully complete the program. After Flight Screening, recruits are commissioned as Air Force Reserve officers and are then posted to begin an intensive 49 week full time training course, during which progression is made from the T-37 (affectionately dubbed the Tweety Bird) to T-38 Talon and ultimately one of the variety of Air Force Reserve frontline aircraft. (An alternative 34 week helicopter training course is also offered).

Air Force Reservenavigator training involvesa 28 week course in T-37s and T-43s (military Boeing 737). There are two course streams, one for those proceeding to fighter type aircraft and the other for those to be assigned to tanker, transport or recon units. ANG aircrew training is essentially the same as that for their AFRes counterparts, bringing them up to the same combat ready status.

The Army, Navy and Marine Corps also have their respective programs for recruits to train as active Reservists, with training for aircrew status along similar lines as the ANG and AFRes, though for carrier type aircraft both the Navy and Marine Corps prefer to actively encourage discharging permanent aircrew to remain involved as Reserve aviators flying carrier types.

Such is the high standard of ANG and AFRes training – coupled with the success of encouraging aircrew leaving full time service for civilian careers to remain actively involved as Reservists – that these part time airmen are regarded as some of the best in the US and indeed worldwide air forces, often winning US and international competitions.

Confidence in the ability of ANG airmen can be gauged by the fact that 100% of Hawaii’s air defence is provided by the Hawaii Air National Guard, flying a variety of equipment which includes F-4s, F-1Ss and F-16s.

Units and Service

Both ANG and AFRes personnel maintain units which are expected to meet the same training and combat readiness standards as their active USAF counterparts. Frequent inspections determine the readiness of individual units and identify areas of training which need further concentration The Air Force Reserve consists of three types of Reservists: • Ready Reserve, with 136,000 trained personnel who are subject to active duty to augment the active components in time of war or national emergency. 82,000 Ready Reservists are members of the Selected Reserve, these reservists being in the highest training categories who train regularly and are paid in unit or individual programs; 54,000 are members of the Individual Ready Reserve, former military personnel still subject to recall obligations.

• Standby Reserve, which includes personnel who are designated key civilian employees, or have a temporary hardship or disability. These 18,000 reservists are not required to train and are not assigned to units.

• Retired Reserve, being 596,000 former reserve officers and enlisted members who receive retired pay from active duty or reserve service. Such reservists may be called up in a national emergency or when war is declared.

The Ready Reserve is the primary AFRes section, being the personnel who are up to date with training and ready for active service. Most Standby and Retired Reservists would only be called up for training or support functions.

Both the ANG and AFRes utilise full time members for the everyday management, administration and maintenance activities of the various units. These full time, dual status personnel are civil service employees of the federal government who also act as members of the unit in which they are employed. Thus during the week they are essentially public servants working to maintain the units in a kind of caretaker capacity, however when units are on exercise or are mobilised, these same civil service employees automatically become military personnel; they are only considered members of the Air Force manpower pool when they are in uniform.

With dual status personnel in place,all paperwork and maintenance of both aircraft and equipment can always be kept up to date. This situation is vital to the efficient running of the US Reserve system, being the difference between combat ready units and the alternative of trained but ill prepared units. Approximately 10,000 dual status civil service employees(15% of the force) are air reserve technicians, three quarters of these being employed in aircraft maintenance.

Besides serving in dedicated ANG or AFRes units, the Reserve Associate Program allows reservist aircrew and maintenance personnel to be collocated with active USAF units where they fly and maintain active force equipment. The aircraft involved in this program are primarily the C-141 Starlifter, C-5Galaxy, C-9 Night- ingale and KC-10 Extender. Crews can either be all reserve or mixed reserve/active.

Federal and State Missions

The Air National Guard has two principal missions, Federal and State. The Federal Mission stipulates that in the event of a national emergency or war, the ANG, as part of the Air Force, provides operationally ready combat units, combat support units and qualified personnel for active duty in the Air Force, to augment and fulfill Air Force war and contingency commitments.

The National Guard’s State Mission stipulates that in time of State emergency the Guard can be mobilised(all Guardsmen are held on 24 hour readiness) under the orders of state authorities to provide protection of life and property, and preserve peace, order and public safety. These missions are provided by the individual states, and include disaster relief(eg during earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and forest fires), search and rescue, protection of vital public services, and support to civil defence and police forces. Most National Guard personnel called up for State service are ground personnel, such as infantry or specialist personnel, or from squadrons capable of carrying out effective search and rescue sorties.

The Air Force Reserve does not come under State control, however it can be mobilised during times of declared national emergencies and can support State emergency operations if requested and approved to do so. During peacetime operations it performs not only military duties, but flies search and rescue missions(over 800 “saves” have been credited to AFRes crews since 1957), fly humanitarian missions worldwide, provide support for Space Shuttle missions, and carry out weather reconnaissance duties. But it is during times of war that both the ANG and AFRes have shown their full effectiveness: during the Korean war, 22 ANG wings comprising 66 tactical squadrons were called to active service; over 22,000 ANG personnel responded during the 1961 Berlin crisis; during the 1968 Pueblo crisis(when the intelligence gathering ship USS Pueblo was boarded and taken to North Korea, and conflict seemed imminent) 60% of the US’s total air power in Korea was made up of ANG personnel; during the Vietnam war over 30,000 combat sorties were flown by ANG aircrews.

Similarly, during the recent Gulf War personnel of both the ANG and AFRes responded to calls for service and were posted to active service. With the numbers of personnel involved with tactical airlift squadrons, the ANG and Reserve proved vital to maintaining the aerial link and transporting both troops and equipment between the US and the Middle East. Within days of Desert Shield beginning, virtually the entire complement of most transport units was on active service, and these were followed by personnel from other units, with frontline combat aircraft serving alongside active USAF units in and around the Gulf. Other units maintained the aerial defence of the US during this time.

Such is the the effectiveness of the US Reserve and Guard organisations,whose training andefficiencyallow each to be so quickly and so confidently mobilised for service in a war using the latest in high tech equipment, be it in a country half way around the world or in another scenario the defence of the US itself.

The success of Desert Shield and Desert Storm are in part due to the US reserve personnel, and their usage both in peacetime and wartime provide vital lessons for the running of a an effective Reserve force: they must be fully trained, ready to serve, and must have access to first rate, high tech equipment.