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Show Reserve command chief returns to the basics ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. - After more than nine years, the command chief master sergeant for Air Force Reserve Command is going back to basic military training, not as a trainee or training instructor but as the superintendent. Starting Dec. 1, Chief Master Sgt. Billy Blackburn will oversee the training of more than 35,000 enlisted recruits annually at Lackland AFB, Texas, home of the Air Forces only enlisted basic military training facil- ity. He will be responsible for the proficiency and use of 400 military training instructors in six operational training squadrons, one processing squadron and one train- ing support squadron. Blackburn will also be the Air Force career field manager for the 8BOOO, Air Force Specialty code, military training instructor. At first I viewed the new job as a step down from being a command chief master sergeant for a major command, Chief Blackburn said. But then I viewed it as good for Air Force Reserve Command and the total force, as well as good for me personally. He was asked in late July if he would be interested in the job while he was the guest speaker at Warrior Week, field training for basic trainees. He competed with three or four other chiefs for the job, and his future boss interviewed him in September. We were looking for a person with extensive prior basic military training experience, said Col. Michael J. Huhn, commander of the 737th Training Group. In addition to his 1 1 years experience in basic military train- ing, Chief Blackburn brings 'his experience as the command chief for the Reserve intendent for the squadron. In April 1991, he transferred to Robing and was commandant of the Air Force Reserve First Sergeant Academy until August 1994 when he became the first sergeant of the AFRC Recruiting Squadron, a job he held until January 1999. Chief Blackburn, who goes over 20 years of active-dut- y service in October, wasnt looking to move when he got the Lackland offer, which like the AFRC command chief master sergeant job, is a three-yecontrolled tour with a fourth year option. Ihad planned on doing this (command chief job) until Genlral Sherrard retires, he said. Ive been happy here doing what Ive been doing. to the table. Chief Blackburn has been the command chief master sergeant for AFRC since January 1999. He advi ses the commander, Maj. Gen. James E. Sherrard, on matters influ- encing the health, morale, welfare and effective use of more than 70,000 reservists and active-dut- y members ar within the command. He also serves as the commanders representative to numerous committees, councils, boards, and military and Blackburn said the Reserve will probably begin adverand use a review board tising his position in to select his replacement. In the meantime, his individual mobilization augmentee. Chief Master Sgt. David Headley, may fill in until the new command chief master sergeant takes office. This job has been good to me and for me, Chief mid-Octob- er civilian functions. After joining the active-dut- y Air Force in 1974, Blackburn served tours in Colorado, Alaska and Illinois as an inventory management specialist before becoming a military training instructor at Lackland in June 1979. In February 1981 he became an instructor at the Military Training Instructor School and three years later was NCO in charge of drill and ceremonies for the Basic Military Training Schools standardizationevaluation team. The chief left the active force and became a traditional reservist in February 1985 as a TI and section supervisor for the Reserves 8050th Military Training Squadron. Three years later, h became a full-tim- e air reserve techas a section nician, serving supervisor and training super Blackburn said. I dont think Im abandoning the Reserve; I like to think Im taking it to a new level in the total force. His new boss agrees. For the past several years, its been total force policy to select the best person for the job, whether they are active. National Guard or Reserve, Huhn said. Chief Blackburn is the best person for the job of superintendent of basic military training. He is an effective manager, who gets things done. I think he will do a lot for this organization. 419th FW members contribute to EAF success by volunteering 1st Class tasking couldnt. Volunteer taskings in the wing added up to 705 days on 419th FW Public Affairs Office deployment All together, the 4 1 9th served a total of 2670 days . The Expeditionary Aerospace Force concept is becoming a on ' deployment in 2000, Major Trammel said. reality, and if this year is any indication, its a reality members have above and he said. People really gone Its beyond, of the 4 1 9th Fighter Wing are ready to embrace. impressive. All around the world, active duty, Reserve and National Every squadron sent volunteers, even those that didnt Guard airmen are working together to keep bases running receive official taskings. effectively. For Active duty members, this means long Its amazing, said Tech. Sgt. Robert Michaud, wing deployments when their AEF is slated. For Reserve and Guard supply transportation adviser. Six people from his unit members, this means taking time away civilian jobs to fill deployed to Southwest Asia over the summer. Im active taskings, sometimes on top of annual training. duty, and Im surprised at how theyre willing to do it. People ; The 419th is supporting the effort as part of AEF 8,f one of ' are t t- ; rn ;r begging IfofTDYs.'' the AEFs responsible for filling taskings for contingency 1st Lt. Mitchell Reynolds, a nurse with the medical operations during the first EAF cycle, which began in October squadron, deployed to Prince Sultan, Kuwait for 30 days with 1999 and will end in February 2001. 1st Lt. Amy Hale. It was quite a job to arrange for the time Of the 178 filled members of the away from his civilian job at Milford Hospital, where he is the assignments by 419th so far, 131 were official, assigned specifically to the sole anesthetist, he said. But it was worth the effort. 419th, said Maj. James Trammell, 419th FW logistics plans It was the most amazing deployment, he said. It was officer. The other 47 were taskings that 419th members really hard on my family and really hard on my hospital. But volunteered to fill because the unit originally assigned the if I can ever make it happen again. Ill go. by Airman Lara Gale 15-d- ay r 15-d- ay When the 419th air package deployed to Turkey in June, some maintenance workers stayed after all the pilots went home, some for 30 days, to maintain the four from the that were left behind for pilots from the 301st Fighter wing Wing to use. This volunteer spirit will be absolutely crucial to the continuing success of EAF, said Col. Steve Topper, chief of plans and programs for 10th Air Force. Theres always a concern because were asking more and more from our Reservists every time we turn around, Colonel Topper said. And every time we turn around, were just amazed that these people keep giving. r This first EAF cycle has been problematic for AFRC, he said. Any new program is expected to include a few bugs, and EAF is more than just a new program. This fiscal year was the beginning of a complete change in the way the total Air Force works together. The 419th wont be a lead wing again until 2003. The wing wont be assigned official taskings again until that time, but AFRC will have a continued need for volunteers to fill taskings other units cannot support. F-1- 6s New smart card will replace standard military ID by September 2002 enhance military readiness. According to Col. William R Nelson, Air Force director of architecture and interoperability, the new card can store up to 32 kilobytes of information, of which a portion is reserved for service applications. The Air Force will initially allocate its space by migrating existing smart card applications to the common access card, he said. e, TThe phase in will be accomplished probably through normal attrition, but the DOD is still base-by-bas- opportunity to work my e job with the whole unit and to be able to maintain the proficiency I need to serve my country real-tim- well, -- Lt. Col. Jimmie Miller, 419th FW, chief of intelligence working out details, Nelson said. The new ID is based on smart card technology that stores and processes information on an integrated microprocessor chip. Among the possible activities being considered on a basis are processing food services chaises in department-wid- e military mess halls and updating manifest and deployment data. Also being evaluated are placing individual medical and dental information on the card, as well as student status, armory and property accountability, training, and firing range performance. To protect privacy, the card is designed with minimum information to support its identification, access and management features. It complies with the Geneva Convention for the Uniformed Services. While the card will not include a personal handwritten signature, it will store certificates to enable cardholders to as well as, encrypt digitally sign documents such as information. The common access card will be tested initially at Langley AFB, Va.; Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea; Ramstein AB, Germany; and the 203rd RED HORSE Unit in the Virginia Air National Guard, according to Air Force officials. Each card is expected to cost the Air Force $6 to $8. Costs are expected to decrease as larger quantities are purchased. ail |